This is old news to many including me, but I heard a segment on the television news tonight about this helpful tool. It is worth spreading the information for those who haven’t heard about it.
I can’t say that I’ve been flustered while navigating interactive voice response (IVR) systems. I do get frustrated when I am placed on hold for a long time, waiting for an operator.
There are certain times I need to bypass even a straightforward IVR to speak to an operator or agent about something out of the ordinary, like when my first Roth IRA withdrawal for the year didn’t take place. In a case like this, with IVR systems designed to keep a caller from reaching a live individual, this tool comes in handy:
The IVR Cheat Sheet™ by Paul English lists companies, categorized by type of organization (finance, retail, etc.), with a corresponding secret code which, when pressed on the keypad or spoken, initates a transfer to an operator. You may still have to wait before they pick up the phone, but at least you know you’ll get there. It’s the grown-up variation of U-U-D-D-L-R-L-R-B-A-B-A-Select-Start.
Keep the IVR Cheat Sheet close to your phone whenever you need to deal with customer service.
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9:18 am (reply)
Thanks so much for posting this. Sometimes I hate calling the companies that I have accounts with because of the annoying prompts. This will definitely be a big help. I have already printed out the list and plan to make a copy for my friends and family. I am putting my copies in my planner, and next to my phone.
9:42 am (reply)
It is hilarious how ubiquitous the cheat code for Contra has become. I mention the code in some arbitraty meeting, and I was surprised at how many people knew exactly what I was talking about.
10:04 am (reply)
lol, i tried the code and the next thing i knew i was spitting fireballs!
power up!
10:05 pm (reply)
so does that code unlock some special camo in metal gear solid or something? ;)
10:06 pm (reply)
oh! contra…that’ll teach me to read comments first…