Help me avoid a trip to the Cingular store, or how can talk to a live person?

Factual Questions
1

I want to have one of my two cell phone numbers changed, but I can’t get through to a live person by calling their customer support line. It’s one of those god-awful voice recognition systems where you have to ENUNCIATE your choices instead of just pressing buttons which would be so much easier. In my most stentorian voice I tried saying “OPERATOR!” and “CUSTOMER SERVICE”, but to no avail. There just seems to be no way to get to a live customer service rep. And none of the offered choices seem to be appropriate for what I need.

Do we have any Cingular customers here who have found a way to get to a real person? If I can’t get help from you guys, I’ll have to detour to the Cingular store on my way home from work.

2

Have you tried not saying anything? or Agent?

3

It took a while, but after several minutes of not saying anything, I finally got through.

4

Well there ya go. Don’t ask and you shall receive.

5

Next time try saying “CANCEL SERVICE” and see how fast they pickup! That’s what I did last week and all I was trying to do was upgrade my wife’s phone.

6

Sometimes, pushing “0” would also get you to an operator directly.

7

This is my preferred method when dealing with computerised systems. I’ve found that complete silence generally triggers a transfer to a human being.

8

I’ve heard rumours similar to what Reply posted, that automatic phone systems have a shortcut button to immediately put you through to a live operator, usually 0 or #.

9

That was the first thing I tried.