ziv
03.07.2006, 14:27
Многие из жителей США постоянно сталкиваются с необходимостью позвонить в какую-либо компанию и использовать "тоновое меню", нажимая по очереди на разные кнопки, чтобы добраться в конце концов до живого человека. Камрад Пол Инглиш провел исследование на предмет "как быстрее добраться до живого человека" путем обмана автоматической системы. Ниже мы приводим список телефонных номеров компаний, чьи автоматические системы можно обмануть, чтобы быстрее добиться разговора с живым человеком.
Finance
phone
steps to find a human
American Express (http://www.americanexpress.com/)
800-528-4800
0
ATT Universal Rewards Card (http://www.citicards.com/)
800-950-5114
###
Bank of America (http://www.bofa.com/)
800-900-9000
1 loan; 2 account; 3 investing; 4 info; or 00 to human
Bank One (http://www.bankone.com/)
877-226-5663
0,0
Capital One Visa (http://www.capitalone.com/)
800-867-0904
ignore prompts and invalid entry warnings; press #0 four times
Charles Schwab (http://charlesschwab.com/)
800-435-9050
3 then 0
Chase (http://www.chase.com/)
800-CHASE24
5 pause 1 4
CitiBank (http://www.citibank.com/)
800-374-9700
1 online support; 2 billpay; 3 non-online; 4 credit card; or 0 to human
Discover (http://www.discovercard.com/)
800-347-2683
****
E-Trade (http://www.etrade.com/)
800-387-2331
####
Fidelity (http://www.fidelity.com/)
800-544-6666
ignore prompt for social security number, just enter ###
MasterCard (http://www.mastercard.com/)
800-MC-ASSIST
000 on each menu
MBNA (http://www.mbnanetaccess.com/)
800-421-2110
00# when menu starts
Paypal (http://www.paypal.com/)
650 864-8000
cf http://paypalsucks.com/PayPalPhoneNumbers.shtml
Sovereign Bank (http://www.sovereignbank.com/)
800-SOV-BANK
1 english; 1 personal; 3 then social#; passcode, #; then 0 (1-3x)
Sun Trust Banks (http://www.suntrust.com/)
404-588-7815
Yes
US Bank (http://www.usbank.com/)
800-US BANKS
0000
Visa (http://www.visa.com/)
800-847-2911
000 (ignore prompts saying that it's an invalid entry)
Wachovia (http://www.wachovia.com/)
800-922-4684
accounts personal banking
Washington Mutual (http://wamu.com/)
800-756-8000
At any time after the announcement(s) press 0,0.
Wells Fargo (http://www.wellsfargo.com/)
800-869-3557
0,0,0
Western Union (http://www.westernunion.com/)
800-325-6000
* then ##
government
phone
steps to find a human
INS (http://uscis.gov/)
800-375-5283
After selecting English, (with a 2 second delay between) 2 6 2 4
Social Security (http://www.socialsecurity.gov/)
800-772-1213
00 will confuse computer and send you to an agent
Veterans Affairs (http://www.va.gov/)
800-827-1000
1,0
insurance
phone
steps to find a human
Aetna (http://www.aetna.com/)
800-537-9384
"2, then say ""operator"" (check this)"
Aetna (http://www.aetna.com/)
800-680-3566
* then 0 anytime
AFLAC (http://www.aflac.com/)
800-99-AFLAC
***
Ameritas (http://www.ameritas.com/)
800-745-1112
0,0,0
CIGNA (http://www.cigna.com/)
800-516-2898
REGARDING A BILL
Cigna (http://www.cigna.com/)
800-849-9000
##
GEICO (http://www.geico.com/)
800-841-3000
Wait for prompt then 6, 1, 5
Humana (http://www.humana.com/)
800-4-HUMANA
After entering insurance number and details, 0.
Medicare (http://www.medicare.gov/)
800-633-4227
"After the opening prompt say ""agent""."
Principal Life (http://www.principal.com/)
800-247-4695
1 for english, 2, then 0 several times until it redirects you to an operator.
pharmacy
phone
steps to find a human
CVS (http://www.cvs.com/)
local listing
dial local store, after promt. press 6 will connect to store manager
Eckerd (http://www.eckerd.com/)
800-eckerds
0 for pharmacy, 8* for manager
Rite Aid (http://www.riteaid.com/)
Local Store
Press 3 to speak to the pharmacy
Walgreens (http://www.walgreens.com/)
local store
0 for a pharmacy employee
products
phone
steps to find a human
Bose (http://www.bose.com/)
800-444-2673
Direct to human!
Sonos (http://www.sonos.com/)
800-680-2345
1 sales; 2 support
Sony (http://www.sony.com/)
800-222-7669
"When prompted by the automated voice system to answer ANY questions, just say ""Agent"""
retail
phone
steps to find a human
Advance Auto (http://www.advanceautoparts.com/)
800-314-4243
0 when the automated message begins
Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/)
800-201-7575
see http://clicheideas.com/amazon.htm
Best Buy (http://www.bestbuy.com/)
800-365-0292
00*
Best Buy (http://www.bestbuy.com/)
local store
wait for extension prompt (sometimes must 4), then ext. 2021
Circuit City (http://www.circuitcity.com/)
local store
0 for customer service or 218 for store manager
eBay (http://ebay.com/)
800-322-9266
0,0
Home Depot (http://www.homedepot.com/)
800 677-0232
"When asked for account number, keep hitting ""#"". After 5 or 6 times, a human appears!"
Home Shopping Net (http://www.hsn.com/)
800-284-3100
0
Ikea (http://www.ikea.com/)
800 434-IKEA
"0000000 (hit ""0"" many times fast, if you do it once, or too slow, it will merely repeat the menu)"
K-Mart (http://www.kmart.com/)
local store
0
Kohl's (http://www.kohls.com/)
800 5645740
After providing account info, press 0 three times
Lowes (http://www.lowes.com/)
local store
0 for customer service or #450 for commercial sales
Old Navy (http://www.oldnavy.com/)
800-OLD-NAVY
0
Overstock.com (http://www.overstock.com/)
800-843-2446
At the main menu, 0 three to four times to bypass the menu
QVC (http://www.qvc.com/)
800-367-9444
0
Safeway (http://www.safeway.com/)
local store
As soon as voice prompt starts type 1200 to get human
Sears (http://www.sears.com/)
800-4-MY-HOME
Silence don't push numbers just sit there and you will be placed at front of queue.
Target (http://www.target.com/)
local store
0 during greeting.
"Toys ""R"" Us" (http://www.toysrus.com/)
local store
0
Wal-Mart (http://www.walmart.com/)
800-925-6278
1 for directory
shipping
phone
steps to find a human
DHL (http://www.dhl-usa.com/)
800-225-5345
press 1, press 5, press 0, enter your phone number.
FedEx (http://www.fedex.com/)
888-GO-FEDEX
"At message say ""Representative"""
UPS (http://ups.com/)
800-pick-ups
0,0
USPS (http://www.usps.com/)
800-275-8777
7-3-2-0-0 or send them some junk mail
technology
phone
steps to find a human
AOL (http://www.aol.com/)
800-827-6364
0
Apple (http://www.apple.com/)
800-275-2273
"000; if virtual rep answers, say ""operator"""
Compaq (http://www.compaq.com/)
800-652-6672
No easy escape
Dell (http://www.dell.com/)
888-560-8324
2 order; 3 support; 4 purchase help; or 00 to human
Dell Service (http://www.dell.com/)
800-624-9897
option 1, xt 7266966, option 1, option 4, option 4
Earthlink (http://www.earthlink.net/)
888-earthlink
1 find a dialin number; 2 billing; 3 sales; 4 support
Epson (http://www.support.epson.com/)
800-922-8911
yes
Gateway (http://www.gateway.com/)
800-846-2301
00#
HP (http://www.hp.com/)
800-474-6836
"Say ""agent""."
HP (http://www.hp.com/)
888-560-8324
00
IBM (http://www.ibm.com/)
800-IBM-4YOU
You go into a hold queue immediately
Microsoft (http://www.microsoft.com/)
800-936-5700
Always 0. This is true for just about any MS number.
QuickBooks (http://www.quickbooks.com/)
888-729-1996
1 purchase; 2 billing; 3 registration; 4 tech support or 0 to human
Symantec (http://www.symantec.com/)
800-441-7234
00
telco
phone
steps to find a human
AT&T (http://www.att.com/)
800-222-0300
#### then 1 if for current phone, else 2 to enter other, else 3
AT&T Wireless (http://www.attwireless.com/)
800-888-7600
No easy escape
BellSouth (http://www.bellsouth.com/)
877-678-2355
*0
Cellular One (http://www.cellularone.com/)
888-910-9191
"4, say ""agent"", then #"
Cingular (http://www.cingular.com/)
800-331-0500
For faster service, the option that you are looking to close your account, You get the same ppl but an immediate answer
Nextel (http://www.nextel.com/)
800-639-6111
0 five times
SBC (http://www.sbc.com/)
800-585-7928
Again, an (intelligent, this time) IVR wants YOUR phone number first.
Sprint PCS (http://www.sprintpcs.com/)
888-788-5001
"If live person does not answer, 00, then say ""agent"""
T-Mobile (http://www.tmobile.com/)
800-TMOBILE
"Say ""representative"" at any time."
Verizon DSL (http://dsl.verizon.net/)
800 567 6789
"Say ""I don't know it"" then ""technician"""
Verizon Wireless (http://www.verizonwireless.com/)
800-922-0204
#00 or enter phone # then 0 then 4
travel
phone
steps to find a human
American Airlines (http://www.aa.com/)
800-433-7300
"00, then say ""agent"""
Amtrak (http://www.amtrak.com/)
800-872-7245
"0 or say ""agent"""
Delta (http://www.delta.com/)
800-221-1212
"say ""agent"" four times - every time it asks for a response from you"
jetBlue (http://www.jetblue.com/)
800 JET-BLUE
1 flight status; 2 reservations; 3 vacation packages
Kayak.com (http://www.kayak.com/)
203 899-3120
0
Northwest (http://www.northwest.com/)
800-225-2525
Star, 0,0 after initial greeting
Southwest (http://www.southwest.com/)
800-435-9792
Calls answered by operator; during busy times you might have to hold
United (http://www.united.com/)
800-864-8331
Do nothing, wait for human.
US Airways (http://www.usairways.com/)
800-428-4322
4, wait, 1
Walt Disney World (http://www.disneyworld.com/)
407-824-4521
Direct line to Magic Kingdom Guest Relations
tv/satellite
phone
steps to find a human
Comcast (http://www.comcast.com/)
800-266-2278
Customer service, but an IVR wants your number first.
Direct TV (http://www.directv.com/)
800-347-3288
0 repeatedly
Dish Network (http://dishnetwork.com/)
800-333-3474
0 during menu
Sirius (http://www.sirius.com/)
888 539-7474
0
TiVo (http://www.tivo.com/)
877-367-8486
"Say ""Live Agent"""
Xm Radio (http://www.xmradio.com/)
800-998-7900
Direct to human!
Finance
phone
steps to find a human
American Express (http://www.americanexpress.com/)
800-528-4800
0
ATT Universal Rewards Card (http://www.citicards.com/)
800-950-5114
###
Bank of America (http://www.bofa.com/)
800-900-9000
1 loan; 2 account; 3 investing; 4 info; or 00 to human
Bank One (http://www.bankone.com/)
877-226-5663
0,0
Capital One Visa (http://www.capitalone.com/)
800-867-0904
ignore prompts and invalid entry warnings; press #0 four times
Charles Schwab (http://charlesschwab.com/)
800-435-9050
3 then 0
Chase (http://www.chase.com/)
800-CHASE24
5 pause 1 4
CitiBank (http://www.citibank.com/)
800-374-9700
1 online support; 2 billpay; 3 non-online; 4 credit card; or 0 to human
Discover (http://www.discovercard.com/)
800-347-2683
****
E-Trade (http://www.etrade.com/)
800-387-2331
####
Fidelity (http://www.fidelity.com/)
800-544-6666
ignore prompt for social security number, just enter ###
MasterCard (http://www.mastercard.com/)
800-MC-ASSIST
000 on each menu
MBNA (http://www.mbnanetaccess.com/)
800-421-2110
00# when menu starts
Paypal (http://www.paypal.com/)
650 864-8000
cf http://paypalsucks.com/PayPalPhoneNumbers.shtml
Sovereign Bank (http://www.sovereignbank.com/)
800-SOV-BANK
1 english; 1 personal; 3 then social#; passcode, #; then 0 (1-3x)
Sun Trust Banks (http://www.suntrust.com/)
404-588-7815
Yes
US Bank (http://www.usbank.com/)
800-US BANKS
0000
Visa (http://www.visa.com/)
800-847-2911
000 (ignore prompts saying that it's an invalid entry)
Wachovia (http://www.wachovia.com/)
800-922-4684
accounts personal banking
Washington Mutual (http://wamu.com/)
800-756-8000
At any time after the announcement(s) press 0,0.
Wells Fargo (http://www.wellsfargo.com/)
800-869-3557
0,0,0
Western Union (http://www.westernunion.com/)
800-325-6000
* then ##
government
phone
steps to find a human
INS (http://uscis.gov/)
800-375-5283
After selecting English, (with a 2 second delay between) 2 6 2 4
Social Security (http://www.socialsecurity.gov/)
800-772-1213
00 will confuse computer and send you to an agent
Veterans Affairs (http://www.va.gov/)
800-827-1000
1,0
insurance
phone
steps to find a human
Aetna (http://www.aetna.com/)
800-537-9384
"2, then say ""operator"" (check this)"
Aetna (http://www.aetna.com/)
800-680-3566
* then 0 anytime
AFLAC (http://www.aflac.com/)
800-99-AFLAC
***
Ameritas (http://www.ameritas.com/)
800-745-1112
0,0,0
CIGNA (http://www.cigna.com/)
800-516-2898
REGARDING A BILL
Cigna (http://www.cigna.com/)
800-849-9000
##
GEICO (http://www.geico.com/)
800-841-3000
Wait for prompt then 6, 1, 5
Humana (http://www.humana.com/)
800-4-HUMANA
After entering insurance number and details, 0.
Medicare (http://www.medicare.gov/)
800-633-4227
"After the opening prompt say ""agent""."
Principal Life (http://www.principal.com/)
800-247-4695
1 for english, 2, then 0 several times until it redirects you to an operator.
pharmacy
phone
steps to find a human
CVS (http://www.cvs.com/)
local listing
dial local store, after promt. press 6 will connect to store manager
Eckerd (http://www.eckerd.com/)
800-eckerds
0 for pharmacy, 8* for manager
Rite Aid (http://www.riteaid.com/)
Local Store
Press 3 to speak to the pharmacy
Walgreens (http://www.walgreens.com/)
local store
0 for a pharmacy employee
products
phone
steps to find a human
Bose (http://www.bose.com/)
800-444-2673
Direct to human!
Sonos (http://www.sonos.com/)
800-680-2345
1 sales; 2 support
Sony (http://www.sony.com/)
800-222-7669
"When prompted by the automated voice system to answer ANY questions, just say ""Agent"""
retail
phone
steps to find a human
Advance Auto (http://www.advanceautoparts.com/)
800-314-4243
0 when the automated message begins
Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/)
800-201-7575
see http://clicheideas.com/amazon.htm
Best Buy (http://www.bestbuy.com/)
800-365-0292
00*
Best Buy (http://www.bestbuy.com/)
local store
wait for extension prompt (sometimes must 4), then ext. 2021
Circuit City (http://www.circuitcity.com/)
local store
0 for customer service or 218 for store manager
eBay (http://ebay.com/)
800-322-9266
0,0
Home Depot (http://www.homedepot.com/)
800 677-0232
"When asked for account number, keep hitting ""#"". After 5 or 6 times, a human appears!"
Home Shopping Net (http://www.hsn.com/)
800-284-3100
0
Ikea (http://www.ikea.com/)
800 434-IKEA
"0000000 (hit ""0"" many times fast, if you do it once, or too slow, it will merely repeat the menu)"
K-Mart (http://www.kmart.com/)
local store
0
Kohl's (http://www.kohls.com/)
800 5645740
After providing account info, press 0 three times
Lowes (http://www.lowes.com/)
local store
0 for customer service or #450 for commercial sales
Old Navy (http://www.oldnavy.com/)
800-OLD-NAVY
0
Overstock.com (http://www.overstock.com/)
800-843-2446
At the main menu, 0 three to four times to bypass the menu
QVC (http://www.qvc.com/)
800-367-9444
0
Safeway (http://www.safeway.com/)
local store
As soon as voice prompt starts type 1200 to get human
Sears (http://www.sears.com/)
800-4-MY-HOME
Silence don't push numbers just sit there and you will be placed at front of queue.
Target (http://www.target.com/)
local store
0 during greeting.
"Toys ""R"" Us" (http://www.toysrus.com/)
local store
0
Wal-Mart (http://www.walmart.com/)
800-925-6278
1 for directory
shipping
phone
steps to find a human
DHL (http://www.dhl-usa.com/)
800-225-5345
press 1, press 5, press 0, enter your phone number.
FedEx (http://www.fedex.com/)
888-GO-FEDEX
"At message say ""Representative"""
UPS (http://ups.com/)
800-pick-ups
0,0
USPS (http://www.usps.com/)
800-275-8777
7-3-2-0-0 or send them some junk mail
technology
phone
steps to find a human
AOL (http://www.aol.com/)
800-827-6364
0
Apple (http://www.apple.com/)
800-275-2273
"000; if virtual rep answers, say ""operator"""
Compaq (http://www.compaq.com/)
800-652-6672
No easy escape
Dell (http://www.dell.com/)
888-560-8324
2 order; 3 support; 4 purchase help; or 00 to human
Dell Service (http://www.dell.com/)
800-624-9897
option 1, xt 7266966, option 1, option 4, option 4
Earthlink (http://www.earthlink.net/)
888-earthlink
1 find a dialin number; 2 billing; 3 sales; 4 support
Epson (http://www.support.epson.com/)
800-922-8911
yes
Gateway (http://www.gateway.com/)
800-846-2301
00#
HP (http://www.hp.com/)
800-474-6836
"Say ""agent""."
HP (http://www.hp.com/)
888-560-8324
00
IBM (http://www.ibm.com/)
800-IBM-4YOU
You go into a hold queue immediately
Microsoft (http://www.microsoft.com/)
800-936-5700
Always 0. This is true for just about any MS number.
QuickBooks (http://www.quickbooks.com/)
888-729-1996
1 purchase; 2 billing; 3 registration; 4 tech support or 0 to human
Symantec (http://www.symantec.com/)
800-441-7234
00
telco
phone
steps to find a human
AT&T (http://www.att.com/)
800-222-0300
#### then 1 if for current phone, else 2 to enter other, else 3
AT&T Wireless (http://www.attwireless.com/)
800-888-7600
No easy escape
BellSouth (http://www.bellsouth.com/)
877-678-2355
*0
Cellular One (http://www.cellularone.com/)
888-910-9191
"4, say ""agent"", then #"
Cingular (http://www.cingular.com/)
800-331-0500
For faster service, the option that you are looking to close your account, You get the same ppl but an immediate answer
Nextel (http://www.nextel.com/)
800-639-6111
0 five times
SBC (http://www.sbc.com/)
800-585-7928
Again, an (intelligent, this time) IVR wants YOUR phone number first.
Sprint PCS (http://www.sprintpcs.com/)
888-788-5001
"If live person does not answer, 00, then say ""agent"""
T-Mobile (http://www.tmobile.com/)
800-TMOBILE
"Say ""representative"" at any time."
Verizon DSL (http://dsl.verizon.net/)
800 567 6789
"Say ""I don't know it"" then ""technician"""
Verizon Wireless (http://www.verizonwireless.com/)
800-922-0204
#00 or enter phone # then 0 then 4
travel
phone
steps to find a human
American Airlines (http://www.aa.com/)
800-433-7300
"00, then say ""agent"""
Amtrak (http://www.amtrak.com/)
800-872-7245
"0 or say ""agent"""
Delta (http://www.delta.com/)
800-221-1212
"say ""agent"" four times - every time it asks for a response from you"
jetBlue (http://www.jetblue.com/)
800 JET-BLUE
1 flight status; 2 reservations; 3 vacation packages
Kayak.com (http://www.kayak.com/)
203 899-3120
0
Northwest (http://www.northwest.com/)
800-225-2525
Star, 0,0 after initial greeting
Southwest (http://www.southwest.com/)
800-435-9792
Calls answered by operator; during busy times you might have to hold
United (http://www.united.com/)
800-864-8331
Do nothing, wait for human.
US Airways (http://www.usairways.com/)
800-428-4322
4, wait, 1
Walt Disney World (http://www.disneyworld.com/)
407-824-4521
Direct line to Magic Kingdom Guest Relations
tv/satellite
phone
steps to find a human
Comcast (http://www.comcast.com/)
800-266-2278
Customer service, but an IVR wants your number first.
Direct TV (http://www.directv.com/)
800-347-3288
0 repeatedly
Dish Network (http://dishnetwork.com/)
800-333-3474
0 during menu
Sirius (http://www.sirius.com/)
888 539-7474
0
TiVo (http://www.tivo.com/)
877-367-8486
"Say ""Live Agent"""
Xm Radio (http://www.xmradio.com/)
800-998-7900
Direct to human!