Here’s a tip I saw on Yahoo! News. If you’re tired of battling endless phone trees from faceless corporations just to talk to a real person, GetHuman and Bringo! can help.As Yahoo! News reports, “GetHuman has compiled a list of all the methods, tricks, and tweaks you need to bypass IVR [Interactive Voice Response] for 500 of the largest and most commonly called companies you're likely to deal with, from car 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.” They also provide tips for finding phone numbers yourself (for those not listed on their site) and effective ways to bushwack your way to a human.
Also worth checking out: Bringo! These folks will actually dial the number for you, then ring you back when you're no longer on hold.
…Of course, there’s always door #3, at least among brokerages: become a TK client and you can kiss the Ameri-E*TRADE-Et Cetera phone trees, tiered service (i.e. non-service for the lowest rung), super-long hold times and other nonsense goodbye. We never hide our phone number – it’s (877) 495-KING (5464) – and everyone, client or not, is welcome to use it. (Or try us via live chat or email.) However you reach out, you’ll connect with an actual, knowledgeable, friendly person, usually within seconds.
Reaching a knowledgeable person instantly, without aggravation! What a concept.
[image: answering the house phone by danhodgett on flickr]
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