don't you hate when you call a company and the prerecorded voice asks you

[RagingInMiami]

to punch in your account number, which is usually at least 10 digits. Then, after doing this and pressing a few more selections, a human comes on the line and the first thing they ask you is for your account number.

[aintitfunny]

1. I really hate that

And if you have to talk to more than 1 person, they all ask for the account number.

[barackmyworld]

2. I hate the voice recognition ones even more

damn Delta airlines one (I think) could NOT understand my last name. I had to get one of my friends to talk into the phone for me! (maybe it was my Chicago accent?)

[RagingInMiami]

3. Oh that pisses me off as well

You say one thing and they say, "we understood 'something totally different'. If this is correct, please press one."

And it's not like you can just bypass all the crap like you used to by pressing zero and getting a human to talk to you. No, nowadays if you press zero, they tell you, "that is an invalid selection."

That is when I throw the phone against the wall.

[barackmyworld]

4. the Delta one transferred me to a "real person"

but the phone rang off the hook for 9-10 rings before I hung up. I had to try SO many times. They didn't even understand when I SPELLED my name.

[RagingInMiami]

6. you got to love corporate america

[tjwmason]

7. Not just America

It's pretty universal over here too.

Voice-recognition telephones should be banned - they are worse than my deaf grandfather.

[RagingInMiami]

8. It must be hard over there

What if you get a Scottish guy calling? How the hell is the voice recognition going to understand that?

[tjwmason]

10. If he's Glaswegian

How's a call-centre operator going to understand him either?

But then half of the call-centres are now in India - Glaswegian meets Gujerati.

[4_Legs_Good]

5. OH Gawd, it drives me nuts!

I can't stand it! What the hell is the point?

I think the punching of the code is a great idea so whomever I talk to can have me all up and ready when s/he actually connects to me, but to have me repeat it? Rediculous!

david

[KitchenWitch]

9. That is so inconvenient

I never punch it in...I will give it to the live person, so I do not duplicate efforts.

[ironflange]

11. Here's a similar thing that bugs me to no end

The phone rings, you answer. The recorded voice says to wait until a customer representative comes on line. I hang up. If it's important, they can damn well have a live human call me.

[RagingInMiami]

12. I do the same

What the hell has our world come to when they can't even get a human to call you?

[Beaverhausen]

13. Hate that!