[usmom]

This is one of my pet peeves. In my job I am required to answer the phone or talk to people when a call is directed to me. It makes me angry that so many others feel that they are 'above all that' and do everything possible to avoid it. Recently, I noticed some fraudulent charges on my credit card. Of course, I was bit panicked and wanted to talk to someone right away. After about 20 minutes of pressing buttons and holding, I got through to someone who then had to transfer me to someone else and then guess what? I was cut off and had to do it all again. Of course when you finally get through again, it's a totally different person, so you have to go through the whole spiel again and hope they don't cut you off, too!

[solitas]

Mr. Garcia said his organization helped put out a consumer resource handbook published by the General Services Administration. The handbook, which includes a directory of corporations, with many phone numbers for customer service, along with e-mail and Web addresses, is available online at pueblo.gsa.gov/crh/corpormain.shtml.

wow! Great resource! Thanks for spotting the article.

[OldFriend]

Here you go........Amazon phone number

1-800-201-7575

[Irish Eyes]

Mr. Garcia said his organization helped put out a consumer resource handbook published by the General Services Administration. The handbook, which includes a directory of corporations, with many phone numbers for customer service, along with e-mail and Web addresses, is available online at pueblo.gsa.gov/crh/corpormain.shtml.

Thank you, thank you thank you.

[newsworthy]

Many consumers have developed any number of tricks for reaching a sentient being.

LOL...The horrors of the modern age...

[Kerfuffle]

Another customer-service funny - Going to the website, finding a number you can call, calling the number... and being urged to go back to the website.

[unbalanced but fair]

Some companies now give automated responses to employment references. And one company I called for a reference on an applicant went a step further. It stated I needed to call another company who handles that. I called there, got another automated system,was told there was a fee, and what credit card would I like to use. All so I could verify employment.

[jackbob]

their coming to take me away ho ho, ha ha, he he. to the button pushing merry go round, ha ha, he he,..,..,..,..

bump de bump.

[Nick Danger]

The real pisser is when you finally outwit the talking machine — it says, "I think you said you wish to speak to a customer service representative" — it hands you off to some Baghwan who can barely speak English. I hate it when that happens.

[neverdem]

FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list. FWIW, I think there's some useful info in the article.

[Old Professer]

NYT, Santa Claus and Depend; somewhere, somehow there's a common thread.

[Squantos]

En español el empuje uno..........

[mupcat]

Here’s a good directory.

http://www.contacthelp.com/index.php

[mupcat]

and another good one.

http://www.dialahuman.com/

[Straight Vermonter]

Want to find how to talk to a person?

http://www.gethuman.com