A New Way to Bypass Automated Response Systems

Wed Sep 6, 2006 3:24AM EDT

See Comments (143)

I've long used the secret phone numbers and commands at GetHuman to figure out the quickest way to get a real, live operator on the line. (Example for Pontiac: Dial 800‑762‑2737. Press 4 4. Then don't press or say anything.) It's an invaluable service and one that deserves a permanent bookmark in your Favorites list.

But now there's a new kid on the block, and it's a killer: Bringo! (aka NoPhoneTrees.com), which does GetHuman one better: Look up the company you want to call, click the appropriate link, input your phone number on the web form, and Bringo! calls the company you want to yell at for you. You get a quick "verify this phone number" call, then, when Bringo! has you in the queue, your phone rings, you hit the # key, and you're in line for an operator.

I tried the service and works without fuss. The only problem is that the Bringo! database is fairly limited right now. You can dial Fujitsu and Texas Instruments for computer support, but not Hewlett-Packard. The two largest wireless carriers (Verizon and Cingular) are missing on the site, but TracFone and SunCom are listed. I'm sure the database will be expanded along with the service, but for now you might not find all the listings you need.

I also have no information about Bringo! the company (there's not even a contact link on the website, and the domain is anonymously registered), so I have no idea what happens to the phone number you use to input into the Bringo! website. The service could theoretically record calls or capture any data you input over the touch tone connection, so you might be careful about entering your credit card number or SSN if you're using the service. (Though these numbers should bypass any of those prompts.) I've seen other stories about the site's Polish founder Marcin Musiolik, and I've asked him if the site has a privacy policy. More news as this story develops. Meanwhile, feel free to experiment with the site with the aforementioned caveats.

UPDATE:  I heard back from Bringo! founder Clement Wang with the following information.

  • A privacy policy is coming in about a week. No monitoring of phone calls is performed, and numbers are not resold or reused in any way.
  • The site is not intended as a money-maker but rather as a technology showcase for Bringo!'s underlying code (and other products that might come from it). The advertisements on the site help offset the cost of the phone calls.
  • Marcin Musiolik is not a founder of the site but is part of the team. The site founders are based in the U.S.

Comments on A New Way to Bypass Automated Response Systems

Post a Comment

Join in the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.

  • 126 Posted by paul_j_munson on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:03PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is the customer service perspective with what I observed on the phones, and why I'm for phone trees. 1) Some calls came through directly to me b/c of returned mail, etc. and I could tell they'd rather just go through the phone tree. Many people do appreciate it and would ask to be transfered back. 2) The company I worked for retained info entered and calls came through at verification levels so it wasn't necessary to verbalize that info again. 3) Like others said - it really is far cheaper than having live operators who add an extra step between buttons. All companies do it because it makes business sense -- we all realize change is inevitable when it comes to making money, right? 4) Messages regarding known issues spiking call volume were addressed in the phone tree. 5) The phone trees, if working as planned, should make hold time shorter for people who have direct issues, not general inquiries. The people who bypass them to get their balance and min due offset this. 6) Finally, I do sympathize with those who hate automated systems. A good customer service experience says a lot about a company and phone trees leave you indifferent and cold. Just use them like we should and try to judge companies based on merchandise, service, or store experience. But do complain about the outsourcing b/c that is the real thing to argue here. I think people just want to get through to see if they get an American voice.

  • 127 Posted by surfergorous on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    Intolerable for customer support because we have a system that does a an electronic check on the customer's system..so that we spend less time going basics with the customer & more time troubleshooting the actual cause of the problem. Don't do this to us!!!!

  • 128 Posted by jasonbeahm on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    "how about just pressing "0" (zero) for the operator? Works on every 800 number I dial..." Thats a laugh! While SOME companies phone systems still allow customers to bypass by pressing "0" this has certainly become the minority. I have no idea why people bother to make posts that are critical of companies that address the pet peeves of consumers, but that's exactly what hiyall69 has done. Oh well...at least I dont have to talk to them on the phone!

  • 129 Posted by imsickofweed on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    One way to get to a human on those computer thingies that talk to you and want you to say stuff back is just to say "agent" and if it says anything back to you just say "agent" again. This works for t-mobile and ups and some others that I can't remember right now. I hate short term memory loss, I guess I should quit smoking pot or something.

  • 130 Posted by rbinup on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    Hot news!!! American companies to stop outsourcing and find resources from inland to support customers. Tail note: Consumer bills to be up by $250 / year.

  • 131 Posted by empress_of_everything on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    In response to: ---------------------------- 29 Posted by amyofarrell@sbcglobal.net on Wed Sep 6, 2006 4:55PM EDT If you're going to use the word "caviat" you should at least spell it correctly. If you're going to write articles, it's important to your reputation to make sure proper grammar, punctuation and spelling are used. ----------------------------- Ms. Farrell, If you are going to admonish someone for bad grammar and spelling, maybe you should double check your own. Let me direct you to http://www.dictionary.com where it will plainly point out the word "caviat" doesn't exist. Caveat, and its plural form caveats, are correct in both spelling and usage as the author intended. Remember the rule "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." Have a fantastic day!

  • 132 Posted by maidenariel on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:03PM EDT Report Abuse

    I work in a call center, and the automated systems really help customer service determine which department you need to go to. It really saves a lot of transferring, which also makes customers angry.

  • 134 Posted by lalithamn on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    Hi All, one quick note that may be considered unrelated. There are a lot of Indians that are Americans and live and work in the U.S. I understand the frustration when dealing with foreign accents but don't get mad at the person. I work as a CSR in good ole US of A and especially recently, I have been told many times by customers that they don't want to talk to someone in India. I have lived in the U.S. for over 30 years and speak fluent English. Yes, I unfortunately have an accent....but until last year no customer complained that they could not understand me. Now, at least 4-5 people each day say that to me!! Keep an open mind is all I suggest.

  • 135 Posted by gkhoosiers on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:09PM EDT Report Abuse

    Just dial zero after computer answers....works for me...

  • 136 Posted by jbruceswanson on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:30PM EDT Report Abuse

    seems like alot of work when all you have to do is press zero - pressing zero works for me too

  • 137 Posted by mzamler on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:32PM EDT Report Abuse

    WHEN DEALING WITH AUTOMATED SYSTEMS . THAT HAVE YOU PUSH 5 DIFFERENT #. I DONT BOTHER WITH THEM.. I WILL EMAIL WRITE THEM OR LET MY ACCOUNT DO IT.AND YOU CAN STOP SOME OF THIS IF YOU HAVE DIRRECT WITHDRAW FROM YOUR CHECKING ACCOUNT. ALL MY BILL ARE DONE THAT WAY AFTER A;; I HAVE ADHD AND AUTOMATED NOT FOR ME. YOU CAN FIND AROUND IT EXCEPT ITS HARDER ON THE COMPUTER . I HAVE ONLY BEEEN ON 4 3 WEEKS.AND YOU WOULD NOT BELIVE HOW MUCH I FOUND OUTON THE WEB. SO I STAY ON THE WEB IF YOU DONT GET A EMAIL ADDRESS I DONT ANSWER

  • 138 Posted by mzamler on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:32PM EDT Report Abuse

    IS THER A HUMAN FOR YAHOO.I A LOT OF PROBLEMS ON MY COUMPTER . I NEED TO UPDATE BUT YAHOO SAYS NO THANKS FOR LOCKING ME OUT OF A LOT OF SITES.I AM NOT REAL SMART BUT I DID FIGURE OUT IF YOU DO ANSWER ME I STILL WAITING 5 DAY . I DOWNLOADED MSN AND NO PROBLEM.I ONLY KNOW 1/4 OF THE INFO I NEED I HAVE ADHA...........AND I AM TAKING YAHOO OF DEFAULT I CANT HANDLE IT. MZAMLER @YAHOO OR HOTMAIL I ONLY READ MY MAIL ON YAHOO... AND YES IT IS FREE. BY YAHOO MASZ

  • 139 Posted by cpachick2004 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:30PM EDT Report Abuse

    How awesome is this??? It turns out that I have to call Dell now and chew out a poor indian or el salvadorean representative who has no choice but to listen to me...lucky for him I don't have to sit in the queue as well~

  • 140 Posted by fnw22 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    Pressing zero does NOT give you the operator on every 800 number. Usually it will say that that was not a valid response and to re-enter a valid number.

  • 141 Posted by halicon2000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:15PM EDT Report Abuse

    double 0 seems to work for me majority of the time with various companys including verizon capitalone and bestbuy this has been over the past 5 years but verizon was recent

  • 143 Posted by geoandrozzie on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:07PM EDT Report Abuse

    Cannot get an opening page for GetHuman.com, only a solid green screen page. It keeps trying to open but it doesn't happen.

More Posts: First Prev … 6 7 8 Next Last

Post a Comment

Sign In to Post a Comment

My Tech

Please enable your browser's cookies to activate the My Tech column.

Also on Yahoo! Tech

Computers Home Office Wi-Fi & Networking Phones & PDAs Cameras & Camcorders TV & Home Theater Portable Audio
 

Site Map | Tour | Subscribe to Yahoo! Tech

Question and Answer content at Yahoo! Tech is written by Yahoo! users at Yahoo! Answers. Yahoo! does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any Yahoo! Answers content. For more information, read the Full Disclaimer.

Opinions expressed by the Advisors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Yahoo! Inc. Yahoo! receives no compensation from any manufacturer or distributor nor does it compensate any Advisor for the coverage of any product or service in any Advisor's content.