How to Beat a Phone Tree

Companies that use phone trees can take up valuable amounts of your time.

If you've ever had to call a company to discuss your bill or service, you know what it's like to wait for a real person to answer your call. Cell phone companies, cable providers and airlines often take you through many different menus before you're finally placed on hold, waiting for an operator. There are ways to get around these phone trees.

Instructions

1. Dial the company you need to talk to. Many large companies, such as Comcast and Verizon Wireless, have automated menus you must navigate before you have the option of talking to a human.

2. Listen to the menu. Once the first option is given, try dialing "0" to get an operator or say the word "agent." Sometimes this will get your a human operator. Make sure first, however, the menu does not already have this choice.

3. Visit GetHuman.com or NoPhoneTrees.com. These sites will allow you to search by company for recommended ways to get to a human operator. When you're talking to Verizon, for instance, you can press "#" at the prompt and then press "0"; this will take you to an operator. If you want to reach an operator immediately at Bank of America, dial "0" at every prompt, GetHuman says.

4. Continue through the menu. If you can't get to an operator immediately, wait it out. Once you talk to someone, ask what you can do in the future to avoid the phone tree.

Tips & Warnings

• Websites like GetHuman.com and NoPhoneTrees.com have recommended numbers or codes to use to get to a company's human operator, but you need to be sure you know your purpose of calling. You could be pushed back to a phone tree if you can't tell the operator what you're looking for.

References

• Get Human
• No Phone Trees

Resources

• Kiplinger: Cut Down the Phone Tree