On Automated Phone Systems...

There is nothing more frustrating than the automated phone system.  And, let me tell you - I have had my encounter with more than one crap-tastic version.

A few years back, I was in a college friend's wedding.  Since she lived in Vermont, she decided to have her bachelorette party in Boston and I decided to fly up to meet her.  Well, just as luck would have it - I got a phone message stating that my flight was delayed and that I could call again in a few hours for a status update.

*Fast forward an hour later*

Phone System: "Please state the arrival city"

Me: "Boston"

Phone System: "You have said Austin, Texas.  Yes or no."

Me: "No."

Phone System: "Please state the arrival city"

Me: "Boston"

Phone System: "You have said Austin, Texas.  Yes or no."

Me: "No."

Phone System: "Please state the arrival city"

Me: "BOSTON MASSACHUSETTS"

Phone System: "You have said Austin, Texas.  Yes or no."

Me: "No."

Phone System: "Please state the arrival city"

Me: "BOSTON.  B-O-S-T-O-N.  BOSTON MASSACHUSETTS!!!"

Phone System: "You have said Austin, Texas.  Yes or no."

Me: "(insert expletive here)"  Click.

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Then there was the Alabama Hotel incident this past summer while I was working on the Gulf Oil Spill.

Phone System: "Please speak the time for your wake up call."

Me: "Ten of six."

Phone System: "You said Ten O'Six.  Please confirm by saying yes or no."

Me: "No."

Phone System: "Please speak the time for your wake up call."

Me: "Ten of six."

Phone System: "You said Ten O'Six.  Please confirm by saying yes or no."

Me: "Good grief!!!  FIVE FIFTY!!"


Phone System: "I'm sorry, that is not a valid time, please speak the time for your wake up call."

Me: "FIVE FIFTY!!"

Phone System: "You said Five fifty.  Please confirm by saying yes or no."

Me: "YES!"

Just to let you know - I never got the wake up call the next morning...

Ughhh...I hate automated phone systems.