8 of 15

Write now Article Tools

Page 2 of 2

in London. After ringing for several minutes I convinced myself that a real live person would answer because an auto system would have kicked in by now. More fool me. This was attempt number one to get rid of me by not answering the phone for five minutes.

Then the second attempt to discourage me from interrupting them came about. I was given what seemed like 27 options to choose from and the closest to my needs was option 23. But of course I didn't realize I wanted option 23 until I had listened to all the options and then had to press the star sign to hear the options again because I wasn't quite sure if it was option 22 or option 23 I wanted.

After pressing option 23, I got the standard, annoying message "All of our advisers are busy". I accepted this as attempt number three to rid the Embassy of my unworthy phone call. They did not suggest that my call was important to them but, if I wished to continue to hold, I was instructed to press two, which I dutifully did.

Having spent the past seven minutes trying to get put on hold on the proper channel I would have pressed two until the close of business if it kept me in with a chance of speaking to some international guru I so desperately needed to speak to. I knew no button could resolve my issue but by pressing two I was getting closer.

How I yearned to hear Greensleeves as the phone was completely silent. No music, no reassuring voice telling me that my call was important to them or that all of the advisers were still busy. I accepted that this silence was attempt number four to deter me from wasting their time from performing other important duties. After about three minutes, a voice was heard. (Three minutes on a silent phone is a long time and I was just about to put the phone down thinking I had been cut off). "If you wish to continue to hold, press two". And press two I did.

This process was repeated again and again until I had been in this press two mode for the past fifteen minutes. I know that as fact as I had nothing better to do than to watch the clock. After a total of twenty two minutes spent trying to talk to a real person, the voice came on again. "All of our advisers are busy, please try back later". CLICK!

Learn more about this author, Travis Casey.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

• << previous page
• 1
• 2

Add your voice

Know something about Reflections: Pet peeves?
We want to hear your view. Write now!