How to beat irksome automated customer service systems

Welcome to the Problem Solver's column on how to circumvent automated phone systems.

To read the rest of this column, press "1" on your telephone's keypad, or scream "CONTINUE" into the receiver.

Para continuar en Espanol, oprima el numero "2" ahora.

I'm sorry, I did not understand your selection.

Let's try again.

If you would like to speak to a What's Your Problem? representative in India, push zero.

Goodbye.

Common refrain

In the three years since the Chicago Tribune launched What's Your Problem? one complaint has been almost universal.

As companies cut costs, many have slashed their customer service departments, outsourcing call-taking responsibilities to workers overseas or getting rid of human beings altogether, replacing them with automated systems.

The systems certainly save money, but for us consumers, the endless number-punching can feel like death by 1,000 key prompts.

Fear not, oh discouraged reader. Help is available.

Read the full article here.