Tech solution for being kept in a phone queue?

[nuyorican]

I have to telephone the council on Monday. Last time I did this I was kept in a queue for bang on two hours listening to a crackly recording of Greensleeves. I'm not looking forward to this especially as I'll be working at the time, but still preferable to an email which can take months for a reply.

I was wondering whether there is any kind of tech solution to this? I don't have a landline, iPhone only.

[Gary C]

Last time I got stuck in a queue they kept playing Elton John's 'Rocket Man'

The line 'and I think its going to be a long long time' does nothing for your patience

[nuyorican]

I am surprised some entrepreneurial type hasn’t come up with a solution to this bane of modern life.

[Deep Thought]

nuyorican said:

I am surprised some entrepreneurial type hasn’t come up with a solution to this bane of modern life.

There are various options but I think all of them are from the company end.

Some allow you to select a callback and the system then calls you back when you are at the top of the queue.

Chat is often a good alternative too if the enquiry can be worked that way. I do prefer chat than calling, if I can.

And of course companies are offering more self service options on their website or app.

[Simon_GH]

Some companies offer a ring back service and hold your place in the queue - I’m happy to wait for a call vs an indefinite wait.

[shed driver]

Does this help? Google's "hold for me" available on Pixel phones. I've used it a few times and it seems to work.

SD.

[Terminator X]

Simon_GH said:

Some companies offer a ring back service and hold your place in the queue - I’m happy to wait for a call vs an indefinite wait.

Same and seems to work well.

TX.

[Bluevanman]

I used to have an app for such circumstances, something along the lines of weq4u where they call you back when the number is answered

[ARHarh]

I just phone the second the lines open or as near as I can get, tend to not queue for long then. Or do it via chat type thing on the website.

[MitchT]

Reminds me of the time I had to call the British Gas 24 Hour Helpline, which was clearley named after the amount of time it takes them to answer the phone.

[robsa]

shed driver said:

Does this help? Google's "hold for me" available on Pixel phones. I've used it a few times and it seems to work.

SD.

Yes, Pixels 'Hold For Me' works pretty well.

[nuyorican]

Thanks chaps.

Never heard of a pixel phone. Will look into it.

[donkmeister]

Have you heard of Google?

Just waiting until Apple bring out a car and all the iPhone users start claiming never to have heard of Ford... Or Karl Benz.

[Somebody]

Try the WeQ4U app

[ridds]

Somebody said:

Try the WeQ4U app

I used to use this. Does it still work?

Just found myself not needing it much with "Call Back" and "Online Chat" these days.

[nuyorican]

Somebody said:

Try the WeQ4U app

Fantastic! Thank you very much, I'll try that tomorrow.

Great image from their website, this could be me no more.

[ninepoint2]

Deep Thought said:

nuyorican said:

I am surprised some entrepreneurial type hasn’t come up with a solution to this bane of modern life.

There are various options but I think all of them are from the company end.

Some allow you to select a callback and the system then calls you back when you are at the top of the queue.

Chat is often a good alternative too if the enquiry can be worked that way. I do prefer chat than calling, if I can.

And of course companies are offering more self service options on their website or app.

My view is it's all about cutting cost, most of these systems are classic examples of solutions being more of a benefit to the organisation concerned rather than providing a decent service to the customer. Maybe we as consumers are so intent on getting the "cheapest deal" on everthing we have inadvertently created this nightmare for ourselves, it's a race to the bottom folks.