"Why Tech Support Is (Purposely) Unbearable"

[$tevie]

You may consider yourself even-keeled, the kind of person who is unflappable when those around you are losing their cool. But all that goes out the window when you call tech support. Then you fume. Your face turns red. You shout things into the phone that would appall your mother.

It’s called tech support rage.

And you are not alone. Getting caught in a tech support loop — waiting on hold, interacting with automated systems, talking to people reading from unhelpful scripts and then finding yourself on hold yet again — is a peculiar kind of aggravation that mental health experts say can provoke rage in even the most mild-mannered person.

Worse, just as you suspected, companies are aware of the torture they are putting you through.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/04/techno...artner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

[sekker]

Call the support number on a Costco Am Ex card after the deal closed. Even Morher Teresa would be cursing at the end.

[Ombligo]

one word... Comcast

[Yoyodyne ArtWorks]

For Charter, just say "Agent" during the recorded message and you'll at least get switched over to a live person.

[NewtonMP2100]

....the UNBEARABLE lightness.......of being....

[Onamuji]

Yoyodyne ArtWorks wrote:
For Charter, just say "Agent" during the recorded message and you'll at least get switched over to a live person.

Wish I could do that for my leasing office. The company that bought my community has done everything within their power to limit human contact with their staff.

[freeradical]

There's actually some useful information at the very end of the piece.

You can also consult websites like DialAHuman.com and GetHuman.com for phone numbers and directions on what digits to press to bypass the automated system and get a live person.

Failing that, apps like Lucy Phone and Fast Customer will wait on hold for you and call you when an actual person picks up. No need to stoke your rage listening to grating hold music.