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https://www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi Main Forum >> Geographical Numbers Chat >> Tricks to skip queues and speak to a human https://www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1133793481 Message started by parttimepar on Dec 5^th, 2005 at 2:38pm

Title: Tricks to skip queues and speak to a human
Post by parttimepar on Dec 5^th, 2005 at 2:38pm

http://www.paulenglish.com/ivr/

Read about this in yesterdays paper, thought it might be of interest to subscribers, apparently he is starting a British version. The American conglomerates must love Mr English!

[edit]See also Getting a human voice thread in Site Related section.[/edit]

Title: Re: Interesting Website
Post by Heinz on Dec 5^th, 2005 at 4:51pm

As I said on MSE, look at all those 800 numbers - what a refreshing change from 0870 rip-off Britain!

Title: 0870 feature in the Mail on Sunday
Post by Ed_Stirling on Dec 11^th, 2005 at 11:13am

Hi folks,

Just noticed this...

A feature in the Mail on Sunday today 11/12/05 (online):

The two keys that almost always put you on to a real person.

Computer hacker turned American call-centre conqueror Paul English has been given more than 150 tip-offs for bypassing UK systems from Mail on Sunday readers.

This was the link: http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=371295&in_page_id=1770&in_a_source=&ct=5

It mentioned those annoying queues and waiting at at up to 10p/min.

This guy, Paul English, has a blog and has there a cheat sheet @ http://paulenglish.com/ivr/
- it seems America based... but maybe the UK version (I've not seen it) could be made available.

Title: Re: 0870 feature in the Mail on Sunday
Post by juby on Dec 11^th, 2005 at 4:30pm

This was first broken on BBC You and Yours on Tuesday last.

juby

Title: Automated QUEUE Skipping
Post by jay_dog on Jan 10^th, 2006 at 11:35am

Site Admin - This is kind of a request and a hint so I hope this is in the correct section, but please move if not.

Like many of you I find these automated systems frustrating when all you want to do is talk to a human.

I know recently a large national paper published these shortcuts but i am unable to find them, it listed all the quick buttons to skip all the well known orgs to get straight to a person when all the PRESS1 PRESS2 etc menus came up.

I know and do use #0 to skip through the BT menus and get straight to a person.
Does anyone have a list of the others.

Title: Re: Automated QUEUE Skipping
Post by mc661 on Jan 10^th, 2006 at 12:18pm

This has been asked many times before and I belive there is another similar post on the site somwhere else.

Title: Re: Automated QUEUE Skipping
Post by trevord on Jan 10^th, 2006 at 2:26pm

The UK version of the list referred to above is here:

http://www.paulenglish.com/ivr/uk/

Title: Re: Tricks to skip queues and speak to a human
Post by the_integrator on Aug 15^th, 2006 at 1:53pm

Hi, I raised this question in another topic (additional service), original post below.
Unfortunatly Mr English's site now points to gethuman which only has US numbers on it.

Regards
Andrew Rice

Hi,

as this site has been so helpful in the curse of 0870 numbers, I thought you would be ideally placed to add another vital service, that of getting a human on the phone. The GetHuman project in the states has a database of how you can bypass automated calling systems and get to a human. I've often found simply doing nothing gets you to an operator as the systems have to support pulse dial telephones.

This information could just be an extra field on your 0870 database.

www.GetHuman.com

Best regards
Andrew Rice

Title: Re: Tricks to skip queues and speak to a human
Post by the_integrator on Aug 15^th, 2006 at 1:54pm

One tip I've found works on some systems is to press nothing. The system often assumes you have a pulse dial phone and transfers to the operator.

Title: Re: Tricks to skip queues and speak to a human
Post by Dave on Aug 15^th, 2006 at 2:15pm

the_integrator wrote on Aug 15^th, 2006 at 1:53pm:

Unfortunatly Mr English's site now points to gethuman which only has US numbers on it.

The UK ones can be found at http://gethuman.com/uk/ ;)

Title: American get a human website
Post by Libcat on Feb 5^th, 2007 at 9:52am

I love this site, have used it myself and have recommended it to many people.

I have just come across this American website
http://gethuman.com/us/

It has a list of companies and tells you how to get through to a human being instead of a lot of computer options.
Does anyone know if there is a British equivalent?
It would make a wonderful companion site to this one.