For instance, I’m on Jury Duty in the US this week. Kinda a freebie but I still have to call in and input my “ID” number, birthday, and zip code before entering phone tree options to hear my summons status. So I saved a contact in my phone for the jury hotline with the main number, my Id number, birthday, zip code, and menu option numbers all separated by a comma. Now when I dial using the saved contact, it will automatically enter everything in and I don’t have to fumble around and spend unneeded time to hear if I have to report.

This can easily be adapted for any automated phone system that you call frequently although you’ll have the best results when you have to enter in a long account number like at a bank.

YYSK: It’s a huge timesaver in the age of digital automation to use your phone to navigate phone tree menus

  • xale
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    1451 year ago

    Caveat emptor: the commas just insert pauses - there isn’t any sort of “synchronization” with the system on the other end, so if the timing is off, this may not do the right thing.

    • Golfnbrew
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      301 year ago

      Yeah, back in the day of dial-up connections, we used to insert two commas

    • @[email protected]
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      181 year ago

      Yes, you have to test it. Sometimes two or more commas work best depending on the system.

    • BarqsHasBite
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      1 year ago

      So maybe 2 or 3 commas after the phone number, so the system can pick up the phone?

      How many seconds pause is a comma?