Can I speak to a LIVE person, please...

[budgetmom]

Ok, I've been trying to get a copy of my credit report for a little while now and all I'm getting is one automation after another. Seems they are having trouble knowing who I am or something because before I had my first child I moved like three times (or more) a year. Guess I was just a free spirit! Unfortunately, I can't remember any of those previous addresses, and because I moved around so much I always filed my taxes to my Dad's address, so that's no help. I remember some little bits of some addresses, but nothing complete. So, who can I actually TALK to to get this resolved.

Seems like everything is automated these days and it drives me crazy.! I went to pay the electric bill earlier this week and was having trouble paying because I wanted to put it on a card that was not in their system. The automated system did not even give a choice to speak with a CSR. I finally just pressed "0" and was directed to someone, but "0" was not an option in the automated list. Granted, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out pressing "0". I just think it's kinda crummy. It makes it look like the place really doesn't want to know what their customers have to say. Am I alone on this?

[greedy4chips]

I agree! I realize they are trying to cut down on expenses, but 2-3 minutes of hopping through menus to sometimes not even get where you want is a bit ridiculous.

Please press 1 if you would like to continue in English. Is this even necessary?!! I realize it is, but I would love to know what happens if I do not press 1 and how many languages do they program into the system.

Charter internet runs you though several minutes of troubleshooting techniques now "That our representative would have you do anyhow". No they wouldn't if they let me explain my problem.

I do understand their rational, but it is too wordy most of the time.

[sarah]

I get especially annoyed with these systems when I am trying to filll a perscription.

[pearlieq]

www.gethuman.com

Click on database and find out how to navigate the call trees for lots of major companies to get a live human being.

[budgetmom]

Thank you Perlieq! I will try it tomorrow when the offices open up. I figure if I can get in touch with someone at Equifax or Transunion, I can get the info I need to work at getting Experian's report too. Now, I just wish that I could get DH's at the same time...sometimes I feel like I'm in a war camp when it comes to talking to him about getting this kind of info (credit/IRS) and getting him to actually do it.

[PRICEPLUS]

You can't press 1 or anything else if you have a rotary phone.

[tinapbeana]

Originally Posted by PRICEPLUS

You can't press 1 or anything else if you have a rotary phone.

You could try beeping really loudly! Plus, lots of companies are moving to VoiceResponse Units, so you don't have to push anything at all.

"For balance and available credit, please say Balance"
*holds breath*

"To learn how you can earn %0.1 cash back, please say Gift"
*holds breath*

"Para Espanol, dice el numero Dos"
*llevar a cabo mi respiración*

"To speak with on of our agents, please say Agent"
YES!!!

"I'm sorry, I don't recognize your response"
*begins to silently sob*

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by budgetmom

I figure if I can get in touch with someone at Equifax or Transunion, I can get the info I need to work at getting Experian's report too. Now, I just wish that I could get DH's at the same time.

I wasn't clear - did you try to get the reports online? If not, go to annualcreditreport.com and try that. You can get yours and your husband's that way (assuming you can answer the questions they require). I pull mine and my wife's at the same time. I don't need her to be there to do anything. All I need is her social security number.

[shelbylovesmelby]

I agree w/ Greedy they are just trying to cut down on expenses for staffing & supposidly make things more effiecient

That ticks me off to no end when of the FAQ's isn't what you need to know & you hit 0 & you get the "that's not an option" so I just keep hitting keys til I get somewhere where I can talk to someone & they can transfer me to someone who can handle my situation.

When I was working they switched to an automated system & boy did it tick off the customers especially the older ones who were used to someone live answering the phone.

And the language thing!! Oh don't get me going on that! Dh's work has that, for even just to check their schedule! I would think having more than one language would be an additional expense, I thought the point was to cut down on expenses. Hmm... what do I know?

[PRICEPLUS]

Customer service? What's that?

In the end the cost cutting at businesses can be counter productive when clients/customers cannot get pertinent infornation in a timely fashion. A live person generally results in a better customer interaction.

I know I don't like doing business with any entity that does not make a live person readily available for service questions or concerns.

[budgetmom]

Honesty, I'm begining to think that a live person is any better than an automated system anymore...
I called Transunion first. The info from the gethuman site worked. I got throught to a human being!! I immediately began to wonder if their call center was being outsourced (totally worries me!) because the guy who answered the phone was so unbelievably hard to understand! He told me to call back in about 30 min. because their systems were being upgraded. I called at 8:15, fifteen minutes after they open, can they not do this at another time?
Called Equifax next. (again get human worked) Explained situation. Guy was very obviously a low level CSR and told me that I could not obtain my report through them online (yes, I did try that first) because I was not a preferred member. I asked him what I needed to do to become one and he went on this big long CSR speech about buying products on their web site, that was the only way to get the report.
"The only way??? How can that be?"
"Well, you could go the snail mail route."
"Well, given my current situation, I assumed that that would be my only avenue anyway, so yes, I will go snail mail."
"In order to do that you have to use XXX phone number."
"OK, NP. Is it a fully automated system or will there be a CSR avalible to help me get this problem worked out? " (If I called a fully automated system, which I already have, I would get a letter in the mail (which I already have) saying that I need to provide them with more info, which I don't have.)
"Uh, I'm not sure if it is or not, you will just have to call and see."
It was a fully automated #...

Called Transunion back, talked to the same guy (now what are the odds of that, I ask you?)
Explained situation. Seems I can't even start to get a copy from them until I give them proof of my current addy (fair enough) and copy of my birth certificate (because for the past 15 years they have never known my birthdate-??? whatever, fine, NP.)
I get their fax # hoping it might spead things along, just a little; and ask how soon it might be expected to be processed after they recieved it. Guy says as early as five working days, but it could take MUCH longer than that he could not give me any real answer. Fine, I will wait, it's ok, for now. What else can I do? I'm at a loss.
DH says I am a sissy when it comes to these things. I think DH is too aggressive and runs into brick walls because of it, if he even makes the attempt.

[rooskers]

I understand your frustration because I lost my wallet once and it had my driver's license in it. Well when I went to get a replacement they said I needed my social security card and stupid me had left the card in my wallet which was stolen. So they said I needed my birth certificate which I had never had because my mom lost it. I contacted the state to get my birth certificate and they said I needed my social security card and drivers license to get it. I tried to get my ss card and they said I need my license and birth certificate to get that. Boy was I a pissed off person for awhile. I finally got through to a person about my problem and they said the only way I could get my birth certificate was if my mom asked for it. It worked but what the hell.

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[Thrifty Ray]

I just had to call Macy's about my moms CC account and the options kept ending:

"If you need more options say: MORE OPTIONs"

I went through at least 4 lists that did not have what I needed and it finally said to wait for a live person...

Id been on for over 4 minutes by now...

Live person comes on---and there is alot of static and a really strong accent that I could barely decipher...

and he finally says...Im sorry, we have a bad connection, please call back. Click.

It seriously took me 3 times to get a connection without the static...but the same hard to decipher accent was still there...

egads. Talk about a nightmare.

[vsjhoc]

Originally Posted by rooskers

I understand your frustration because I lost my wallet once and it had my driver's license in it. Well when I went to get a replacement they said I needed my social security card and stupid me had left the card in my wallet which was stolen. So they said I needed my birth certificate which I had never had because my mom lost it. I contacted the state to get my birth certificate and they said I needed my social security card and drivers license to get it. I tried to get my ss card and they said I need my license and birth certificate to get that. Boy was I a pissed off person for awhile. I finally got through to a person about my problem and they said the only way I could get my birth certificate was if my mom asked for it. It worked but what the hell.

This is the definition of a Catch-22. This would make me absolutely crazy. My mother passed away so she can't request my birth certificate. What would I have to do if I were in your situation?