On Hold

[tiggerblue10]

What is the longest time you've waited to get through to someone on the phone? I just spent 20 minutes on hold and gave up. I'll find out how much I've wasted on that call when I get my bill. I am quite an impatient person :o(

[pixie373]

I would rather it just rang, than automatically answered. Then you wouldn't have to pay for waiting.

[tiggerblue10]

I had to go through a couple of menus before going on hold. I guess they're short-staffed as its the summer holidays but I've waited nearly the same amount when calling this number before.

[237SJ]

50 minutes (to Orange). I wrote to them, telling them all the things I had managed to do around the house whilst waiting for them to anwer the phone and enquired if this was a record. They replied that they were pleased that I managed to utilise the time so productively.

[thatsmethatis]

Give me the good old days when you got the 'engaged' tone. Hang up and keep trying, somehow made it more bearable.

[tiggerblue10]

I've waited nearly as long as that SJ, when calling Virgin Media, or Telewest as it was know back then. The call was free though so I didn't mind so much.

[pixie373]

I think it takes me 20 minutes to get severely fed up. Have waited for 40 when important. I try to avoid phoning companies as much as possible. If i do, i ignore the menus as it usually goes straight to a person then.

[cupid04]

Are you allowed to say fed-up?

[ummmm]

You're more patient than me. I last about 5 mins...

[tiggerblue10]

If I could do it over the internet I would but there doesn't seem to be the option of doing that.

[AlwaysConfused]

I'm extremely impatient. After 5 minutes I'd presume that there was a fault with the line and hang up. Only to have to go through the routine over and over again as I become further behind in the queue. Then, to break the cycle, unless it was an emergency I'd give up on my mission and vow to try again later. By this point, I become far too frustrated and complain to OH until he becomes so bored of my ordeal that he deals with it himself (as it's usually a call he has asked me to do in the first place!)

I hate automated systems and being on hold

[petal54]

the calls that ring off as soon as you answer are a pain to,esp,if half asleep

[Infomaniac]

I hate that you have to pay for the time you are kept waiting.

[pixie373]

Lol, cupid. Yes, i fed up.

[tiggerblue10]

It would be good if they told you what number you were in the queue. The only time I have ever had that is when I called Croydon Council, Environmental Health dept. At least you can make up your mind whether its worth waiting on the line or not.

[Buenchico]

Longest time on hold?

Over 7 hours trying to sign on for JSA, only to get a message saying that the centre had now closed.

[Frank97]

Can't beat that, but I did wait over three hours once for Orange to answer. I'd actually gone to bed with the phone on my pillow by the time they answered.