Communication -- Merlins Tower

I hate Automated Customer Service Systems and A Solution

Posted on March 13th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Communication, Hack, Human, Tutorial, Web Service.

Frustrated on Hold I had a horrible time this morning - I had to call and get some paperwork straightened out about my vehicle. I had to call the bank the used to have my auto loan and try and get them to send out some paperwork that dealt with a lean on my vehicle that doesn't exist anymore and had not since 2003. Well, this morning I went through Customer Support H E Double Hockey Sticks. I really despise those automated voice prompt systems. (And I used to work with one at my previous job) But they seem to be getting harder to use.

I used to know the trick of pressing 0 to get a customer support specialist - well now they switched up and when you don't press anything or keep pressing the wrong buttons it switches over to the computer telling you to please speak your answer instead of connecting to a human.

Is it me or do those computer voice recgnotion systems really make things worse. After I tried pressing 0 - I was put into the voice prompt maze - Say 1 for this - Say 2 for that - say 3 for anything but the human I desired to talk to (Heck I would have been happy to even talk to a script reading operator located in some foreign land).

Since my issue is not that common (At Least I hope is it not that common) to have it's own voice prompt menu item. I kept switching from menu to menu and back over a few again - trying to find the correct combination to get to a person or by chance to a menu system that may have what I was calling about.

Now - the really furious thing happened - The computer said it was not sure what I wanted to do and was told to call back when I had had all the proper information and proceeded to promptly hang up on me. Ouch 17 mins wasted in a phone menu maze and then the system hung up on. Yes, HUNG UP ON ME - How rude and very poor customer service.

Well I proceeded to check the internet to find alternative ways to get ahold of someone at this bank - Which honestly I should have checked in the first place and was able to find this God Send of a website — Get Human .COM — Using the database I was able to find the 800 number (The Same One I previously called) and it had all the keystrokes I needed to get to a human being right away.

This time around I was talking to a live human that was able to help me in a matter of only a few minutes and was able to send me out all the paperwork I needed. Complete phone call 7 minutes. I am so happy that I found this website and I just had to share this experience with you.

Make sure you share this website with your friends and family. Print out a list and keep it in your daytimer if you use one. This can be a big timesaver for everyone.

Technorati Tags: Customer+Support, Voice+Prompt, Phone+maze, Customer+Service+Hacks, Hack, Hacks, DIY, Operator, Information, Banking, Amazon, Auto+loan, Banks, Automated, Customer+Service, Customer, Service

0 comments.

Daylight Savings Time Started Today

Posted on March 10th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Announcement, Communication, Life.

Rising Sun - Time to set your clocks Good Morning Everyone - Rise and Shine - If you live in the United States You better check your clocks on everything - Bread Machines - Toaster Ovens - Microwaves - Your PC

Because you need to make sure you have set your clock ahead one hour. This came earlier then normal due to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 which moved Daylight savings time to March 11th, 2007 and it doesn't end until November 4th, 2007.

You can read more about this issue at Dr-T as last night many people were working on making sure your Cell Phones, Banking Services, Computers Were set and accurate.

If you would like to understand the history of DST (Daylight Savings Time) you can read more about it at Answers.com - Which gives the history all the way back to Ben Franklin suggesting something like this and a complete list of all the pros and cons of DST.

And if you would like to hear a song that was inspired by DST you can check it out on Last.FM

If you live anywhere else - Good Morning and Just enjoy your day.

Technorati Tags: Energy+Policy+Act+of+2005, Energy+Policy, DST, Daylight+Saving+Time, Time, Hour, Clock, Setting, History

1 comment.

Video: How to - Calligraphy

Posted on March 9th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Communication, Craft, DIY, Video, YouTube.

The following video "Calligraphy - Only You" makes doing Calligraphy look very easy - Too easy. I wish I could make my calligraphy look about half as good in twice the time. I believe the lettering style is Blackletter style. This really is a nice traditional style. I can see this style being used for wedding invitations, party invitations, basically anywhere you would like a stylish look and feel.

This style is also called German Gothic - Again a nice style In my opinion for a wedding invitation, or a fancy party invitation. I really need to practice this style - a very traditional style of calligraphy.

Technorati Tags: Calligraphy, Youtube, german+gothic, Calligraphy, Blackletter, Wedding, Wedding+invitation, Invitations, DIY, Lettering, Handwriting, Craft

0 comments.

Video: Helpdesk Support for using a Journal / Notebook

Posted on March 7th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Anything Else, Communication, Journaling, Miquelrius, Moleskine, Notetaking, Tutorial, Video, Weird Stuff, YouTube.

As many of you well know things we take for granted were once new to someone at some point of time. This video skit is just about that fact. What if there was a help desk in the middle ages when the paper journal was first introduced to the monks that only used paper scrolls? How would you explain it to the end user? What would you say and do?

Would you know how to use it if you were used to using a paper scroll?

What were the advantages and disadvantages of using one?

I really enjoyed this video and had to share it. So sit back and enjoy - Warning this is in ~~dutch~~ Norwegian (Thank you, JEM - I stand Corrected - I just wrote was I was told it was) with English Subtitles but still worth it.

Middle Age Tech Support

Technorati Tags: helpdesk, help+desk, tech+support, Middle+Age, Paper+Scroll, Journal, Paper, Middle, Age, Video, Youtube, How+to, How, To, Funny, Cool+thing

2 comments.

Exercise for the Mind: Free Daily Crossword Puzzles

Posted on March 7th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Communication, Freeware, Game, Hack, Health.

I enjoy trying to exercise my mind and one of my favorite past times is working on crossword puzzles.

Recently I was shown the puzzles at Puzzlers Cave there are hundreds of puzzles available to play and solve - and the best part is there is nothing to join or pay for. Being free is even better then learning a new word or concept from a well devised puzzle. The Cruciverbalist (Someone that makes a crossword puzzle) come up with some of the most interesting puzzles.

The only problem is that you can not take them with you. So, if you need a puzzle or two to take with you on the bus or to pretend to look smart the next time you head out for a cup of joe at the local coffee shop feel free to visit the puzzle archive at the CapCod Times Website.

And if you need to some help on crossword puzzles check out my previous article on crossword puzzles and solvers.

Technorati Tags: crossword, puzzle, crossword+puzzle, cruciverbalist, printable, freeware, free, mind+exercise, exercise, exercise+for+the+mind