A rant about customer service auto-lines

[Orrex]

I've used the varous get-a-human customer service hint-websites, but sometimes you have to call a place not listed there. Like today.

Why the hell do I have to enter my account number and my zip code and the last four digits of my SSN and then give this information to the person who finally answers? And why then, when that person transfers me to a different department, do I have to enter it all again and tell it all again to the next person who answers?

What the hell's the goddamn point of having an automated system? Why am I entering all those goddamn numbers if they're not actually doing anything?

And if anyone says "it's to keep you busy," I'm going to repost all of my Brazilian jokes a few dozen times this afternoon.

[crispini]

1. because the company is stupid.

You can buy software that will zap all of that stuff from the phone system over to the rep, but if the company doesn't do that, then they're being cheap and irritating.

[Orrex]

2. I believe you, but...

I'd say that better than 90% of the companies I call are similarly screwed up. Why pay for the phone-entry system at all? I mean, if it's cheap not to pay for the zap-to-the-rep system, then it's got to be even cheaper not to pay for the entry system itself, right?

Aaaargh!!