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Just a thought…

By Jinal Shah ⋅ February 21, 2006 ⋅ Post a comment

How many times have you called Customer Service numbers and wished you’d just get a live human instead of the automated machine-voices?

My answer? Lets calculate. On an average, if I make three calls a month to either my bank, phone company or credit card company, that equals to 36 times a year. (discounting the times I’ve wanted to order something from somewhere or simply ask for information) And since I’ve been in USA for 5 years that means, 180 times.

Yes. I’ve wished (on an average) 180 times for a live human on a 1-800 number.

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5 comments for “Just a thought…”

  1. Good point. Which reminds me, I hate it when I call my friends and get their voicemail with the automated prompts AFTER their personalized message. So it will say, “To page this person, press 4. Or just stay on the line to record a message. At the tone, yada yada yada.” What a waste of people’s valuable time to continue to give these instructions every single time!

    Posted by Nick Gray | February 21, 2006, 4:59 pm

  2. Nick - I should probably not admit this, but I never ever leave people v-mails and unfortunately, don’t check mine either!

    It’s bad enough we have to go through so much to leave people a message, but its worse when people leave never-ending messages! I figure if people see my missed call, they’ll just call back. simple, no?

    Posted by Jinal Shah | February 21, 2006, 5:17 pm

  3. If all of us had a buck for each time we’ve had this experience, we’d probably be running our own banks by now. You might find the post ‘Computerben - A True Story’ on http://caferati.blogspot.com/ interesting.

    Thanks for taking the time out to read some of my posts and for your comments.

    I like your blog and will keep visiting!

    Posted by GhostOfTomJoad | February 22, 2006, 8:13 am

  4. I’ve wished for humans as well- the automated voice has become my new pet peeve.
    I believe there is one customer service center and automated voice per 1000 corporations. And the music they play when you’re on hold is the worst. More technology=Less jobs

    Posted by buda | February 22, 2006, 12:35 pm

  5. GhostofTomJoad - Thanks for the link!

    Buda - I think you are talking of the SimpliCiti credit cards? They even advertise it like that — find a human voice. Something along those lines…

    Posted by Jinal Shah | February 22, 2006, 3:41 pm

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I believe in a set of values I cannot live by. I set high goals for myself, I seek perfection, dream of exotic faraway places. But ultimately, what I long for isn't far away at all. Its in my own backyard. Imperfection charms me, familiar things move me... a celebration of what we have, instead of what we long for- that for me, is glamor. -Isabella Rossellini