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.

  • 26 Posted by bobbyanne@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    When I call to speak to a person, I want to speak to an American! I resent all the jobs that have been outsourced to India. The last Bangaloreian I spoke to was barely intelligible. I couldn't understand him and the connection was terrible. I just told him I did not want to speak to him and hung up. This happens all the time.

  • 27 Posted by edlev39@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:52PM EDT Report Abuse

    Thanks for the information. I quit ATT as my long distance carrier because I could not talk to a real person and that from a company in the communications business. SBC who is now ATT and has adopted the same mentality and I will be looking for a new phone company.

  • 28 Posted by amyofarrell@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    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.

  • 30 Posted by phreakincool on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    1) This site is extremely beta and still under construction. Says so on bringo.com. 2) I'm not sure about the underlying tech, but in practice it should be more wiki like. that way more nubers are added by the users. 3) #3: Modern day companies don't care that you can't contact them to complain. I can name several companies that bury their contact numbers on their websites, if they post them at all. Ebay. PayPal. 4) #5: Doesn't work on Comcast for starters.

  • 31 Posted by cathy747@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    for the person with the phone numbers that wants to know who they belong too try infospace.com or anywho.com both have reverse lookup and they will tell whose phone it is as long as it is not unlisted hoped this helps

  • 32 Posted by dklotusjuggalo on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    The cost of business would go up only because greedy corporate types have gotten used to outsourcing to save money. There ALWAYS used to be a human on the other end and it didn't cripple companies. They don't pass on the savings. Dell are some of the most expensive computers. One of the other reasons I didn't go with a Dell is their "legendary" service. It has a reputation alright. People worry about illegal aliens taking jobs, but these guys are GIVING jobs away. They can't afford to pay an American to talk on the phone?

  • 33 Posted by wubbsies on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    No, not without contact information on the website. They say they won't misuse my #, and yet they don't list their contact information.

  • 34 Posted by saddlup@sbcglobal.net on Wed Sep 6, 2006 5:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    Talking to these robots sucks! Now they even call you with an antimated voice and then tell you to hold for an operator to be on the line soon ! See, they dont want to hold for you either! But they sure expect you to hold when their robot calls you to whine a about a late pymt. I just let my home answering machine answer it. If I want to talk to it, I'll call it back at some later date. I'll check my home machine once a night, if its a robot calling my #, it just gets erased before the 3rd word of the message gets thru. My cell Phone is my primary phone. My home phone is for all that useless stuff. Dont EVER give your cell # when buying anything! Use your home # with answering machine. That way when those fools call you to harrass you in either way, they get a taste of their own medicine! It works wonderfully for me! No one needs it!!! Thanks! Saddlup

  • 35 Posted by frankmar17@verizon.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:02PM EDT Report Abuse

    I do agree with most of these comments. I have a dell computer, which is my first and last one for this reason. It takes a long time to get a human, and if you do; you get somone from india that you can't understand.I also noticed if you are making a purchase 9 out of 10 times you will be connected quickly. It is when you need to resolve a problem is when all the hassles are created by these systems. I hated these automated phone trees since they have been out. By the way comment no 35. about how it would cost if you had a human operator! I dissagree to a point I worked in a government agency in the 80's they had an operator answere the phone, and she would ask what department you wanted, and that was it your call was routed and finished that quickly. There are some automated sytems that are improving, but they still have a long way to go.

  • 36 Posted by usafvietnamvet6970@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    All I gotta say bygawd is bring back ALL Customer Service for Americans to the United States of America~! Employee American Workers in these much needed Customer Service Centers and give these people a good living wage based on experience and work ethic. Large Corporations should have to provide "Point of Origin" Operators to DIRECT All calls to the right Department for Customer Service calls. Pony UP America Corporations or see your Corporations go Bye, Bye~! I see I have more than enough characters left to DRONE On and On but enough said. Thanks In Advance for listening to my Rant and 2 cents and allowing some more BANTER on this Subject........LMAO

  • 37 Posted by don.carriker@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    Companies who use automated answering systems are completely insensitive to people who are hard of hearing. The voices on the answering machines are almost always female, and the female speaks entirely too fast for a hard of hearing person to comprehend. Perhaps they need to review the Americans with Disabilities Act and find out what can happen to companies who do not make reasonable accommodations for people with an aural handicap. Perhaps a civil action would wake them up.

  • 38 Posted by cnull on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    #31: you might want to look it up yourself... http://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/archive/2003/09/10.html

  • 39 Posted by steinie44@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:41PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have found that just pressing the # key 4 or 5 times works on just about all somapny phones like ATT, Comcast, Consumers Energy, DTE Energy etc.

  • 40 Posted by roykoboy on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    "0" usually works for me too. The automated-call companies claim it saves money. But all it does is aggravate me and I don't see any savings trickling down to the consumer.

  • 41 Posted by beckett360 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:04PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is not that cool. It costs less money to have a machine do it.

  • 44 Posted by fredlanham@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:03PM EDT Report Abuse

    Companies with automated systems need to realize there will be automated search features for comments and complaints from the consumer in the near future.

  • 45 Posted by ronda.norling@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    Given the option to wait in que for an English speaking operator or a Spanish speaking operator, I almost always choose the Spanish even though I don't speak Spanish. Then, I always act surprised that I got to them. They always speak English and I didn't have to wait 10-15 minutes to talk to someone! :-)

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.