Avoiding telephone queing systems.?

Question

Sometime ago in the news there was a guy who had found a way around the automatic telephone systems. I recall that this fellow had reported on techniques to speed the caller through the lengthy button pressing procedures and also get through all of the advertising crap that you have to put up with that is foisted on you when all you really want is to talk to someone quickly.

Also, he had an extensive list of the direct telephone numbers which would not normally be available for those organisations who have seen fit to make all of their customers have to phone infuriating call centres, this being the only interface that they offer.

Does anyone else recall this and do you know where I can find the information?

Answer 1

Hi there, if you mean the UK - it was on Richard Hammond's 5 o'clock show:

Phone Cheats

Ever wanted to know how to get around those endless automatic phone responses? Well, follow these guidelines and we might be able to help.


IVRs ("interactive voice response") are the annoying computers that answer phones. Richard Hammond's 5 O'Clock Show has teamed up with Paul English, an American who's beating these computers at their own game to come up with some cheats to get straight through to a human. Paul's worked out an extensive list of cheats for the US and he's helping us crack some of the hardest British systems.

If you know of any cheat or accidentally discover one then do email us at [e-mail].


General cheats. These are cheats which can often work if there isn't a specific cheat listed.


Press 0 (or 0# or #0 or 0* or *0) repeatedly, sometimes quickly. Many IVRs will connect to a human after a few "invalid entries", although some IVRs will hangup.


Say "get human" (or "agent" or "representative") or shout your favorite four letter word. If these are not programmed, the IVR might again connect you to a human after a few of these "invalid entries".

Just hold, pretending you have only a rotary phone (the old fashioned one with a dial)

Connect to sales; they always seem to answer quickly, then have them transfer you to the department you need.

When you do finally find a human, ask them how to connect directly the next time (in case your call gets disconnnected etc), and be sure to tell us so we can pass the information along.

Specific UK cheats (more will be added)

PC World - main number is 08702 420 444 – press * then the 4 digit store number (which is on the top of your receipt) i.e. 4802 for Gloucester, then #, and you will get through to your chosen store.

Virgin Trains - when the system starts simply say “AGENT” and it will put you through to an advisor.

Lloyds TSB Credit Cards - customer service line. When asked to say your 16 digit card number, just say “AGENT” as well, and you will go straight through.

Alliance and Leicester - press 0#0#0#0#0 repeatedly until you get a ringing tone

Tesco - (0800 591 688) - when prompted to select an option - do NOT press anything - do this everytime you get a prompt. The system will think you have an old fashioned rotary phone and take you straight through.

MBNA credit card - there's a phone number on the back of your card which is for customers abroad (01244 672 2000). Use that and you'll jump the queue.

Currys - (0870 609 712) Press # - when told that option is not available press again. You may need to do this a few times.

BT - (0800 800 150) - Just press * whenever you get a prompt. Ignore the operator when it says that the shortcut is invalid and press again. This will take you straight through to a ringing tone and an operator.

Since first featuring Phone Cheat Sheet tips on the show we have been sent lots more tips by viewers.

Here are some more to add to the list so that you don't have to be hanging on the phone any longer than necessary.

Sent by viewers:

Argos
0870 600 8784 - press 0 # four times
Telewest
0845 142 0220 - press * at the first and second prompts
Sky TV technical support
0870 243 5000 - press * # repeatedly
Virgin Mobile
0845 6000 070 - press # a few times
Orange Pay Monthly
07973 100 150 - press 0 continually
Amazon
0800 279 6620 - press 5 at prompts

Lets hope he continues his good recovery.

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

I doubt you can find one solution that works for all systems as the phone systems are programmed for each company. Sometimes you get a voice saying press 1 for this and 2 for this etc and don't tell you that maybe you can press 5 to get to where you want to go. If you are calling the same place often and know that you are going to press 6 or any other number, you usually don't have to wait until all the talk is over to make your selection.
If there is one number in particular that you call frequently and want to cut through all the crap, I think the only way to find out is to ask someone who works there. Now you wouldn't want everyone to know the shortcuts, that would only end up like the fast bag drop at the airports.

Answer 4

Just press O for the operator. If you get another menu keep pressing O and you should get a human being at some point. The other way that works sometimes is to just not press anything and it will think you have a rotary phone, but these are getting pretty rare now-a-days, so I'd stick with the O for operator as the best bet.

Answer 5

Yes, I remember this - it was on that terrible programme at 5pm on ITV with Richard Hammond (the bloke who's just had the rocket-car crash) and that useless woman Mel Godrych (or some daft spelling). The programme didn't last long (mainly thanks to her being such a useless cow) but I know they made quite a thing of it, and it was later taken up by one of the consumer programmes. The procedure seemed mainly to consist of rapidly pressing the hash (#) button repeatedly until you heard a ringing tone, but alas I can't recall the exact instructions.
Of course, one way to beat the bastards with 0870 numbers (7 to 10p per minute!!) is to see if you can beat them with a landline number - "Say no to 0870" is the place to go to try that one.

Answer 6

I remember he said that you can:
Not press anything so they think you don't have a touch-tone phone,
Press random numbers
Press 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # ...
Keep saying "agent ... agent...."
But I've tried most of these to no avail .. Good luck!

Answer 7

I've found pressing 0, 0,0,0,0,0, until you get an operator/adviser works. I have done this many times, or pretend you don't have an account no. password etc. This also works well.

Answer 8

Press nothing. They assume you don't have a touch tone phone and you get one of those rare human things.

Answer 9

If it's Virgin Trains or one where you have to SAY what you want to the system, make noises or be random, eg "Sausages" and it gets confused and passes you on.

Answer 10

i was told last week to just keep pressing random buttons and it bypasses all that automated stuff,yes it works