[ brrrrring brrrrring ]

sooooooooo...i'm going to sound really old now but i can't stand automated phone messages! first of all what is this? ~'please listen to all our options as they have recently changed...' yeah right!! this has become the standard message... if i was making a phone message for a company i would probably use that line! why is there the need to say that? it doesn't make me listen harder... in fact i have this extremely annoying habit of switching off while that message is going on & then i'm left having to make a completely blind selection or... hanging up & going through the whole process again.

there is a higher than normal calling volume, expected waiting time is 9 hours!!

then finally... ok i'll get you to a representive but i need a bit more information first... no you don't!! because whatever i provide you with now i'm going to have to repeat again to the actual human being that will hopefully grace me with their presence!!

the worst is when i'm driving along & it's one of those messages where you have to make your selections verbally... first of all it that's IMPOSSIBLE when you have your kids in the car... especially when oscar starts repeating everything i say!! & also for some reason... maybe it's my british accent they NEVER understand me!! i end up arguing & getting really irate with an electronic voice, it's ridiculous!!

& when they haven't understood they say 'sorry i'm having so much trouble understanding you' you & me both buddy!

when my first child, oscar, was a baby & i was on maternity leave i got into the routine of 'trying' to breastfeed while watching the tara banks show followed by montel!!

well on one of the tara shows she told us about free 411. my ears pricked up because, i know this sounds mean, but i HATE paying to have a number looked up. this free 411 has got to be the worst version in the entire universe of whatever the system is to understand voices. i swear it's put there on purpose so you then dial the actually 411. i've had many an argument with the automated voice & shown 'her' by hanging up & dialling 411!

but...i still torture myself with it...optimistically thinking maybe this time it will understand me!!! i even put on the 'best' american accent i can possible muster (which i have to say is pretty horrible).

if anyone has any 'beating the automated system' tricks they'd like to share i'd love to hear them!

& just in case anyone wants the free 411 info it's 1 800 free 411 ~ GOOD LUCK!!