Please press one for...

**acabin42** · 11-16-2009, 12:27 PM

English.....etc...
This morning I have spent several frustrating minutes listening to and trying to converse with an "automated phone system"! Finally, remembered that I could just hit the 0 (operator) button and get a real live person. Now, why didn't I think of that first? You would think I'd learn after awhile.....

**butterflygreen** · 11-16-2009, 01:34 PM

I dont like thoes systems

**Saydee** · 11-16-2009, 01:36 PM

We SHOULD NOT have to press 1 for English....period.

**Inkstain82** · 11-16-2009, 01:37 PM

Originally Posted by Saydee

We SHOULD NOT have to press 1 for English....period.

I'm intrigued.

Why not?

**ritabelle** · 11-16-2009, 02:14 PM

I hate the systems that don't give you the option to 'press 1' they want you to say 1. I apparently don't speak loudly enough for the system to acknowledge my response unless I'm screaming and sometimes pressing zero doesn't work. Very frustrating!

**shoiji** · 11-16-2009, 02:26 PM

Yes, I am not happy about the phone voice prompts. Especially when they ask you to key in personal information and you finally get a real person and they ask the same information again. Makes you wonder "what happened to the information I just gave you".

**NikoSan999** · 11-16-2009, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by Saydee

We SHOULD NOT have to press 1 for English....period.

Amen and pass the English dictionary!!!

**NikoSan999** · 11-16-2009, 02:42 PM

I've only had a couple places where me pressing 0 didn't work. Even if when I first start I'm in a decent mood by the time I get done pressing this and that I'm already ready to fight with the person on the other end of the phone and it isn't their fault.

**ohwhataday03** · 11-16-2009, 04:16 PM

And they make you hold forever, I hate when I have to call any 800 numbers. What would they do if they called you and you asked two thousands questions before telling them that the person they are asking for is not home at the time?

**ladytoysdream** · 11-16-2009, 04:24 PM

I so hate going through these voice prompt systems.

Most of the time, I still need to talk to a real person.

It is upsetting to me, that I have to press a number to get the message in English.
One call I made recently, the default language was Spanish.
What in the heck happened to English ?
Is this not the USA ? And isn't our language English ?

**Inkstain82** · 11-16-2009, 04:28 PM

Originally Posted by ladytoysdream

It is upsetting to me, that I have to press a number to get the message in English. One recently the default language was Spanish. What in the heck happened to English ?
Is this not the USA ? And isn't our language English ?

What could be more American than freedom, the freedom to speak whatever language you choose and the freedom of businesses to cater to their customers how they see fit?

Personally, I think it's fantastic and fascinating that America is becoming more multilingual. But I'm weird that way

I'd probably choose the Spanish option even though I haven't had any since college, just to see if I could muddle my way through it.

Also, this:

http://xkcd.com/84/

**Nishu** · 11-16-2009, 07:07 PM

A lot of systems don't even let you bypass everything with a 0 anymore.

And just for the sake of argument

-There is no official language in the U.S.
-It's actually standard in a lot of places to have different languages in the same are... Think of how many Canadians speak French and how many non-English Europeans speak English. I don't understand why it makes so many Americans cry.
-Many Mexican American families have been here for generations. We acquired Texas from Mexico via white people invasion, so many Mexicans didn't cross the border. The border crossed them.

And just as a bonus... If people who speak two languages are called bilingual, and people who speak several languages are called multilingual, what do you call a person who only speaks one language?

**Nishu** · 11-16-2009, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by Saydee

We SHOULD NOT have to press 1 for English....period.

And not to press the issue, but why should we not have to? Business respond to demographics. A business that doesn't adjust to the needs of consumers will fail, end of story. These people aren't making a statement about how they don't like white Americans. They're just trying not to get phased out by a changing public.

So why is that so offensive? Should we just not let Spanish speaking people live here? Or should we make them all learn English? Or is it the fact that they use the telephone system that's got your feathers ruffled?

Honestly, I just don't get the gripe.

Now I'm going to step out of here before Sara comes and lays the smack down on us.

**craftypam** · 11-16-2009, 08:38 PM

Originally Posted by NikoSan999

I've only had a couple places where me pressing 0 didn't work. Even if when I first start I'm in a decent mood by the time I get done pressing this and that I'm already ready to fight with the person on the other end of the phone and it isn't their fault.

I got a list from somewhere. I don't remember if it was sent via e-mail, but it tells you how to get past the recordings and what # to push for several companies. I love it!!!!!!!! Also agree about push 1 for English. I don't push 1 and it goes to English anyway!!!!!!!!!

Ladytoysdream; you know what else is annoying about those recordings, when none of the responses are what you are calling for; then what number do you push? I know you push just any number to get to a real live person and then you have to wait on hold TWICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**ladytoysdream** · 11-16-2009, 08:50 PM

It is really the voice prompt that drives me nuts mainly.

I have 4 years of high school French but I would not be able today to hear it and respond to it. The written word I can stumble through and figure out.

I also have a hearing problem so sometimes those voice prompts drive me up the wall even more so. I just want to talk to a real person. It is rare the system can answer my questions. They don't ask the right questions or have the correct options I need.