How to find a live human when you call for help
One of the less pleasant aspects of this technology driven age is the automation of help lines at many (most?) companies. Not only do you have to thread your way through a maze of button-pushing to get to the right subject when you telephone for help or information but you never actually get a real person when you finally arrive at the right button. You either get a recording or a voice-activated computer. I personally hate having to talk in a loud, painfully enunciated voice to a machine. Then the machine will answer the wrong question anyway.
Many companies do not even seem to have a telephone. They want you to direct all inquiries to their Web site. Going online is no solution, however, since all you get at many sites is a FAQ that only answers the most general questions, many of which any normal person would already know how to answer. Trying to email is no better. You either get no reply or a canned answer to a general question that you did not ask.
Fortunately, there exists a site that lists ways to obtain help from real people at a number of large companies. I spotted it in an article in today’s Wall Street Journal. The site is by Paul English. As of today, there are 111 different companies listed. These include Amazon (800-201-7575) and Verizon DSL. The Amazon number is a rare example of a line direct to a human being. The Verizon DSL number (800 567 6789) is more typical of the convolutions necessary to talk to a person. After calling you have to say “I don’t know it” followed by saying “technician”.
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