Cussing also works
Just start swearing at it and it will usually connect you, the nastier the better.
It’s so stupid too. All they offer to help with can be easily looked up online. I never waste my time calling some dreaded hotline unless it’s a special case.
When answering machines want me to speak out loud despite how long I wait to hear the number prompts, sometimes I yell fuck you and hang up.
It doesn’t work on all systems, but you can try spamming the zero button. My bank has the most annoying robot assistant I’ve ever had to deal with, but I’ve learned if I hit the zero button everytime it asks me something after about 4-5 times it gives up and just transfers me to a person… I have had this work for other companies, but it’s hit or miss.
Seems like people have been doing this enough that companies have started to disable the functionality. Comcast will just hang up on you nowadays if you spam zero.
My trick lately to speed things up with Comcast is just go straight to cancellations. I always immediately get a human on the phone. I them tell them what I’m actually calling about, and they will then transfer me to the correct department.
