When you're on a call into an automated system, spam *#*#*#*.

[Zeze]

Most auto system has a path for receiving spammed * or # and it ends up saying, "you will be connected to an agent / representative."

It has worked for me for almost 10 years- CC companies, any online stores, crap, etc.

 

[Kazukian]

I just say things like: "The zebras are licking my balls"

Good times...

 

[Mike64]

Most auto system has a path for receiving spammed * or # and it ends up saying, "you will be connected to an agent / representative."

It has worked for me for almost 10 years- CC companies, any online stores, crap, etc.

That used to work on most systems, but more and more often, I just find myself being told the system "doesn't recognize that response" and being bounced back to a "main menu" to start all over again.

I just say things like: "The zebras are licking my balls".

Personally, I usually just say "I want to talk to a human being" once or twice, then start inserting various, increasingly raunchy and complex-in-a-graphic-sorta-way expletives before the words "human being". I've always harbored the hope that those comments are somehow being logged somewhere, but probably not...<sigh>

 

[skull]

Ha I've always done a combination of *0# My buddy watched me call verizon doing that. I had someone on the horn in less than a minute. Hes likes how the hell did you do that I waited 45 minutes with verizon the other day.

Fuckin verizon I went in for phones over the summer said I want 2 new motorola phones. I sit there forever while the chick plugs shit into the computer. Finally she comes back ok it'll be $375 I say ok finally lets do this. Another 20 minutes and she come back holding stuff waist to chin, wireless chargers, car chargers, cases. I go this is all included? She goes yeah, I said hold on a minute I only want 2 new phones I don't need all this shit. Will it be cheaper without all this? She says hold on a minute starts plugging shit into the computer again. 5 minutes later, yeah its only $75 for just the phones. You motherfuckers you just sat here wasted my time trying to scam me.

 

[HeXen]

I don't even waste my time to answer the phone. Do you really think anything you say is going to matter or that they care? Hell no they'll call you right back on the next round especially knowing they have an answerable number because they will list it as answerable in their database which means you'll be cycled with priority.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Interesting. Probably some default setting on IVR systems that typically is not changed.

I find that 0 works often too. There are actually ways to hack a lot of these systems to get an outside line for free long distance. I've never would would never do it myself, but at work I get notifications from the security dept about customers being hacked and I have to go in the switch on our side to block long distance so they don't end up with a ridiculous bill. Basically a favor to the customer really... they get notified that their system needs to be patched. I think it's usually through the voice mail system that it happens. You can hit a certain key sequence and get an outside line basically. The calls typically don't last more than a few seconds and are always overseas. Kinda interesting really, makes you wonder if it's some kind of bot net doing this, perhaps for some anonymous transaction of sorts like sending faxes or even some kind of data packets. Could probably transfer bit coins that way actually.

My favorite is calling hydro companies. They always ask for the phone number associated with the account so they can tell you if power is out in your area. That's great and all but that feature NEVER works, it always says it can't find your account. For Ontario AND Quebec, both of their systems, I have never actually gotten that feature to work despite putting a valid number. So now I just spam a bunch of stuff until it gets me to an attendant. The Hydro Quebec one you have to actually talk and it has voice recognition so I always say "code postale inconu" and it brings me right to an attendant.

 

[pontifex]

i always used 0