So who designs those customer service menu options anyway?

[jagec]

No, I do not want to check my account balance, make a payment, close my account, request a credit increase, get info about transferring balances, or finish my call. I want to talk to a representative, because if I wanted to do the stuff mentioned in the menu, I'd do it online like any other idiot. I'm not going to subject myself to the customer service line unless I have a REAL problem, and it won't be something that can be answered by some stupid automated menu!

Honestly, the customer service number on the back of this new credit card has NO way to talk to a real person. None. What were they thinking? Do people really use the customer service line to check their balance and make payments?

Update: I called the main BoA number, and after 2-3 redirects (once to mortage services, of all places), and a good hour on hold, I got their credit card division. I told them I was having trouble activating my card. Turns out that while they have my cellphone number correct as my home phone number, when I actually call them it shows up as some other bizarre number, so I can't activate on their totally-automated line. Of course, that's the ONLY way to activate...the CSR told me as much...so basically it wasn't going to happen. "Either hang up and try the automated line again, or just don't activate your card" he said.

I went ahead and temporarily changed my home phone number to my work phone, and after a bit more difficulty and another call to a CSR I got it activated, but now I can't sign up for online banking.

This credit account has really gone downhill since BoA bought MBNA. I'm seriously thinking of just cancelling it. It shouldn't take two hours of phone tag to activate a stupid credit card.

 

[krunchykrome]

Just hit 0 and be immedietly directed to an operator.

 

[mb]

http://www.gethuman.com/us/

 

[spidey07]

Once a week Satan comes on up and redesigns the menus. He constantly changes them to throw us off.

 

[hanoverphist]

Originally posted by: krunchykrome
Just hit 0 and be immedietly directed to an operator.

a lot of the systems im used to hitting 0 to get an operator have now disabled that option. now the only recourse is to hit choices that are invalid a few times until the computer gives up and passes it to a real person.

 

[LS20]

Originally posted by: hanoverphist

Originally posted by: krunchykrome
Just hit 0 and be immedietly directed to an operator.

a lot of the systems im used to hitting 0 to get an operator have now disabled that option. now the only recourse is to hit choices that are invalid a few times until the computer gives up and passes it to a real person.

or if its something evil like ATT , it'll just cycle the menu over and over again.

 

[mooglekit]

Originally posted by: supafly
http://www.gethuman.com/us/

:thumbsup: I love this stuff, most of it is pretty good

 

[gerwen]

Originally posted by: jagec
<snip>
because if I wanted to do the stuff mentioned in the menu, I'd do it online like any other idiot. I'm not going to subject myself to the customer service line unless I have a REAL problem, and it won't be something that can be answered by some stupid automated menu!

Ya, but you have common sense, unlike 90% of their callers.

You've gotta get their supersecret number that they only give out to those who demonstrate common sense. It's direct connect to real people!

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: krunchykrome
Just hit 0 and be immedietly directed to an operator.

Tried that. Seriously, there is NO human being attached to that phone number.

Update: I called the main BoA number, and after 2-3 redirects (once to mortage services, of all places), and a good hour on hold, I got their credit card division. I told them I was having trouble activating my card. Turns out that while they have my cellphone number correct as my home phone number, when I actually call them it shows up as some other bizarre number, so I can't activate on their totally-automated line. Of course, that's the ONLY way to activate...the CSR told me as much...so basically it wasn't going to happen. "Either hang up and try the automated line again, or just don't activate your card" he said.

I went ahead and temporarily changed my home phone number to my work phone, and after a bit more difficulty and another call to a CSR I got it activated, but now I can't sign up for online banking.

This credit account has really gone downhill since BoA bought MBNA. I'm seriously thinking of just cancelling it. It shouldn't take two hours of phone tag to activate a stupid credit card.

 

[PingSpike]

I had the same problem recently, I think when I called capital one. I wanted to add a ship to address to my card. Of course, none of the options cover that. I'm waiting for it to say "for any other reason, press 5!" or "to speak to a customer service rep, press 6!" but no, it just ends with a cheerful "to return to the previous menu, that also didn't have any of the options you desired, press the * key".

I can't remember if I went with the "press 0 repeatedly" tactic or just went with the "to setup an account" option, knowing it would get me to a human...the wrong human yes, but still a human.