We’ve all been there, hours waiting on hold listening to the world’s worst backing music and endless automated options to wade through. Would you just like to speak a real person? With my tips you can do just that.
Photo by Anna Shvets
How to speak to a real person on the telephone
- Don’t press any options at all.
- Dial zero, multiple zeros or multiple hashtags.
- Choose the option for ‘thinking of leaving us.’ This generally directs you to the retentions department who should be able to deal with your query and offer incentives or goodwill gestures to encourage you to stay.
- Provide nonsensical voice recognition answers such as ‘sausage’ or ‘hello’ to confuse the system or say no to every question.
- Choose the ‘Sales’ option and ask to be transferred. ‘Customer Service’ support options tend to have much longer wait times.
- Make a note of the order of options so you can quick fire through them should you have to ring again or try https://pleasepress1.com to see phone number options and press ahead.
- Source lesser-known numbers via websites such as https://www.saynoto0870.com or find a customer service forum for the company in question on social media where others might share alternate numbers.
- Make smart calls: ring at optimum times and call off peak if you can. Avoid lunchtimes and after 5pm.
- When you finally get to speak to a real person ask if there is a free direct number for any future calls.
- Don’t waste your breath or their time and yours. Escalate any issue sooner rather than later to executive teams by emailing CEO.
How to speak to a real person online
- Type key words in to online searches plus company name e.g. Amazon online chat UK instead of trawling through websites to find contact details.
- Skip quickly through any initial agent chatbot or banking chatbot pop-up boxes by clicking any of them
- When asked for more info about your issue type ‘speak to a real person’ or ‘speak to an agent.’
- Contact companies via social media direct message on Twitter (X) Facebook or Instagram.
- Search online for customer service forums where people share advice and tips for contacting companies directly.
I hope that the above tips help. It is really frustrating that companies are making it increasingly more difficult for customer to actually speak to a real person. However where there is a will there is a way!
Can you add any tips? Let me know in the comments.
I’m waiting for a parcel since 22/11/24 ,and evetime that i go to track her ,just come “in transit ,in transit ,in transit ” really i would like to know how this work ,cos updates ,…i don’t have ,phone don’t have ,just a stupid chat ,that try to help ,but at the end send us to another chat ,and even worst …charge “£ 1,but then and after all is £24 “. SO ,I DO’T HAVE MY PARCEL,I DO’NT HAVE UPDATES ,AND IDO’T KNOW EVEN HOW TO TRY TO GET SOME INFORMATION ABOUT IT.
ITS A REALLY CHAME WHAT YOU ( EVRI) ARE DOING ,OR WORKING .
Hi, sorry to hear about your lost parcel. I am not Evri, I am a consumer champion who helps people deal with Evri delivery issues. Your contract is with the retailer, they need to sort this for you.
I am very concerned that an item I handed to an Evri courier has been lost.
No one seems to know where it is.The courier was unable to get her reader to work and said it would be fine she would send it back to the depot.
She did not give me a receipt or a bar code,I was silly enough to believe she knew what she was doing and the parcel would be returned as promised.
Neither Evri nor Freemans has any record of the return and I am now £30 poorer.Am I wasting my time pursuing this with a Evri.
Hi Morag speak to your card provider to see if they can assist.
FOOTNOTE . 12/042025
DAMAGE TO MY PROPERTY BY EVRI DELIVERY DRIVER .
Delivery driver left package in my black wheelie bin as i was out .
Came back and found he had broken my wheelie bin lid strap .
I am aged 78 with health and mobility issues and local Council
binmen collect my wheelie bin from back door , also return them with no problem with the staps.
They know you have to slacken buckle to open lid .
Straps bought off Amazon .
I would like EVRI or Amazon to replace strap .
Attached photo of damage , also other wheelie bin with intact strap.
to show what they look like .
If I am out, I leave a laminated note on both doors with options .
Anthony Martin [ Tony
Getting nowhere with EVRI
Hi Anthony, your contract is with Amazon, they need to sort this for you, not Evri. Contact them and make a complaint about the Evri delivery.