How to Get a Human on the Phone

IVR, or Interactive Voice Response: It's the scourge of the western world. And even if you don't know it by its official name, you certainly deal with IVR, probably on a weekly basis. IVR is better known colloquially as voice mail jail, voice mail hell, and other, less savory terms that I can't publish in this column. But whatever you call it, everybody hates "talking to the computer."

But just because IVR exists doesn't mean you have to take it sitting down... for hours on end. If you know the right code, you can bypass the computer and get right to a real person (or at least the queue to wait for a real person) with no trouble at all.

GetHuman has compiled a list of all the methods, tricks, and tweaks you need to bypass IVR for 500 of the largest and most commonly called companies you're likely to deal with, from car companies and computer dealers to government agencies and more.

Even better: GetHuman provides the toll-free number (or a regular toll number, if no toll-free line is available) you need to dial, too. It's all on one big web page, HERE.

While you're on hold, don't miss GetHuman's tips on finding phone numbers (if they aren't listed on the main GetHuman site) and tips on how best to get to a human in general. Also worth reading: GetHuman's advice on how to deal with an operator you can't understand.

Finally, Bringo! is still around (though it hasn't been updated in a while). This service actually dials the number for you, then rings you back when you're no longer on hold. Worth a try if your arm is going numb.

LINK: GETHUMAN.COM (Note: Site may temporarily be down due to overwhelming traffic; try again later!)