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.

  • 46 Posted by th_davis@prodigy.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    In 100% agreement with mattradack. SBC/at&t have so many subsideraries and sub contractors that none of them know anything about the other. the only way to traverse their maze is to get ahold of a person to transfer you. Sadly to say, however, you will end up where you started.

  • 47 Posted by rmt71@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:44PM EDT Report Abuse

    I agree with 41. I too am hard of hearing and unable to hear all the options to press. I have felt that people really do abuse this service. Most likely, the employees are goofing off. Thanks, I will try some of your suggestions.

  • 48 Posted by rhutch98 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    The new automated systems do not bother me in the least. I think that I would rather push a few numbers or say a few words to get my answer then wait 20 min in a queue. By skipping this process guess what happens? We all wait longer. Guess what also happens, the product that you are calling about goes up in price because each 1 of these calls that human picks up costs money, quite a bit of money.

  • 49 Posted by msaxolotl on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    If this works it is great. And, 0 does not always work. Sometimes # or * does.

  • 50 Posted by msaxolotl on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    If this works it is great. And, 0 does not always work. Sometimes # or * does.

  • 51 Posted by jtsummers@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    Most of the time when you do get to talk to a person, that person is in India, Pakistan, South Africa or Malasia. So you might be better off not getting somebody...

  • 52 Posted by dq61291@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    The best customer service these days is a live voice. It cannot be bettered by a voice response system.

  • 53 Posted by dq61291@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    Answer to 30 I work for SBC, now ATT and although there are many VRU queues, many of us are helping our customers and talking to people live. If you have an issue, let one of our supervisors know so you can get attention to your problem. I've worked with a lot of helpful employees here, I'm sure someone can help you.

  • 55 Posted by minor.pounds@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:21PM EDT Report Abuse

    Pressing the # sign works, too. Hitting 0 is good. When the computer tells me to say something, I usually just mumble or speak in some strange tongue and that will get a real person. I agree with the rhetorical question about when the "big boys" will realize the automated system is hated by customers. Equally rhetorical, do you think they really care? Just another way to ignore your questions and comments.

  • 56 Posted by tids@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    It saddens me to see that we have become a nation of indivduals. What was once "We the People, By the People, For the People" has become "Us And Them". And "THEY" don't care about "US" In most cases "We" don't need their products with their phone trees of hassles. And I think they need to remember this, just as we need to remember we made them- and we can break them.

  • 57 Posted by malibupete@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:04PM EDT Report Abuse

    We spend much more time trying to contact someone than actually speaking to them once we do get them. This is just another example of having to use our time and energy in a world gone technically insane.

  • 58 Posted by hobbsoldbg65@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    To message 31 person. Sorry but the word is spelled correctly, caveat, as in caveat emptor, buyer beware.

  • 59 Posted by alexanthony on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    OK..so i know this won't be a popular post, but the reality is that companies use these systems to control costs. why tie up a person on the phone to answer mundane questions like directions, hours of operation, etc.?? what about the fact that because of these systems you have the ability to get your account balance any time of day rather than waiting for normal business hours? If the system is designed well, it should improve the customer's experience - which may include an easy way to speak to a human when you know your issue can't be solved by a machine. A Different Point of View.......

  • 61 Posted by welliesrus@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    to hiya1169 there are some companies that no longer allow that 0 for operator several i have called say invalid entry whenever i enter 0 and it then takes forever to get anywhere.

  • 63 Posted by rhutch98 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    I agree with post 65 and to add fuel to the fire, last time I checked all companies exist to make money, ok maybe not NFP companies but I doubt we are talking about them in this context. I am sure that all the complainers on this board would have a change in heart if they own stock in a company and that company reports that there EPS are down because there expenses are up as they have not automated systems that can be automated. There is word that describes companies like this it's called bankrupt. Try getting customer service from a bankrupt company. You all need to look at the bigger picture here.

  • 64 Posted by n_duncan@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    amyofarrell--look again. Caviat is not a word in the dictionary. If you're going to write comments about other people's articles, it's important to make sure what you're saying is based in reality...

  • 65 Posted by rickthegenius@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am tired of hardware, software and firmware handling my calls. I want FLESHWARE on the other end of the line. Something with a pulse, not a system clock-rate.

More Posts: First Prev … 2 3 4 5 6 … 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.