Posted by: LouHenke ®
04/04/2008, 10:10:14
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I echo the frustration! One of my all time favorite corporations with voice recognition is our phone company, Qwest. I usually just say nothing, listen a couple of times to "I'm sorry, I didn't hear your reply. Please repeat your sentence." Then I'm transferred to a real person.The latest voice recognition system I chanced upon was for Utah Road Conditions. A very nice, clear female voiced computer asked me to say the roads I wanted to travel on. With a couple of my silent treatments, she relented and let me enter the number of the highway I wanted to travel on. Finding the humor in circumstances does help but somehow thinking I've "won" with a computer just isn't all that funny! Peace and keep on pushing those touch tones! Linda
ADSD since 1987, diagnosed in 1994
LaPorte Co
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Posted by: Paula B ®
04/04/2008, 15:08:16
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Hi Lori,I just wanted to respond to your last portion of this post. You said, you usually get transfered to a person with a heavy foreign accent, who can't understand you either. That made me laugh, since when I finally get transferred to a real person, who normally has a different accent then me, both ends of the conversation keep asking for the other to repeat. It's just funny, because everyone tries to communicate as best as we can. Sometimes it may just feel like the problem is with us, but honestly it isn't. Sometimes with me, I'll be hitting the number key, and I'll miss the next instruction!! Then, I'll just have to call back. :) Everyone! Just do your best, since, that's all we can do. Don't let life frustrate you, since, we only have one life to live. (Hey! Maybe that is why that is my favorite Soap Opera!?) Take Care, Paula (IL)
ADSD for 3 years
soa3503@aol.com
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Posted by: shakyvoiceguy ®
04/04/2008, 16:52:04
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I'm sure we can all relate to this exact experience. I recently signed up with a new phone service. Unluckily for me, their customer service is located in a foreign country (I'm guessing India). While I was signing up, I needed to spell my name which would then be used as my official account name and password. I spelled my name a few times as best I could and the fellow on the other end kept getting it wrong but it sounded to me as if he'd finally gotten it right (again, he was very hard to understand and I'm sure he thought the same of me). Well, when I was transferred and was asked to give my account name and password, I again pronounced the letters of my name as best I could, and I was told that there was no such account. After a number of phone calls and transfers, we finally got the situation settled. Of course, the first person I spoke with misunderstood the letters of my name and I misunderstood his (heavily accented) repetition of said letters...telephones are evil!
But in hindsight, it is kind of funny. It's just tough to find the humor in the situation at the moment especially when miscommunication is happening and credit cards are involved :)
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Posted by: nan g ®
04/05/2008, 07:30:53
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Lori,Speaking specifically about American Airlines, as someone who flies with them regularly, all the information you seek is available online (aa.com). It's always faster for me to get it online rather than deal with a person anyway -- all you need to do is enter the flight number. They even have a mobile version of their web site, for smart phone users (like me) which allows me to check flight status and gate info on my way to the airport without trouble or delay. I know this doesn't address the enormous hassle of having to deal with automated voice prompt systems in general but if a web site is available and accessible, it usually means less frustration. Nan
AD/SD
Modified by nan g at Sat, Apr 05, 2008, 16:50:36
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Posted by: hoarse whisperer ®
04/05/2008, 16:22:29
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Thanks for your message Nan. I am aware of how to get the information online at the AA website, but when I'm needing the information, I'm usually on the road with just my cell phone. I don't have Internet access on my cell phone.Thanks again. Lori
AB/SD and VCD since 2003
Dallas, TX
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Posted by: Laurie ®
04/05/2008, 11:58:57
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Hi, all,Here is a site one of our leaders found a couple months back. It lists bypass codes to avoid the automated systems. I tried out a few companies and it does work. While you'll still have to deal with a live person, that can sometimes be a little easier than dealing with voice prompts. Personally, I have very little patience for voice prompts or even "press 1 for this, 2 for that" as it takes too long for the operator to get through all the menu options, then the secondary menu options, etc. when I just want my question answered immediately. :) So it's another option to try. Laurie
Related link: Get a human on the phone
Modified by Laurie at Sat, Apr 05, 2008, 12:00:12
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