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I had a terrible time with Julie yesterday. I was trying to change a train reservation from Sun. to Mon. next month, and, for some reason, Julie could not understand my reservation number, confusing a 9 for an A. It never would have occurred to me that they sound alike. But to Julie's credit, she turned me over to a real person and we got it straightened out.
I'm taking a trip from BOS to NOL to CHI to WAS to BOS, seeing friends and grandchildren.
Posts: 518 | From: Maynard, MA, USA | Registered: Sep 2000
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Hi Tom. Sounds like a great trip, have fun.
We will be in your town overnight in October. But from the looks of 448 timeliness we may barely be able to lay down our heads in our expensive hotel room before rising to get on our cruise ship. It is the weekend of the rowing thing so I booked early, staying at the 140 this time.
-------------------- Vicki in usually sunny Southern California Posts: 951 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Aug 2006
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There is a way to bypass Julie. I tried it this morning and it seems to work. When you start to hear Julie, hit the "0" phone button a couple of times. That should get you to a live person.
I still haven't received my Amtrak system timetable, after 3-4 online tries starting in Jan. Today, I tried the above method and got a live person and she ordered one for me.
Here is a website of bypass numbers to call, for many organizations, to bypass the robot and get a live person:
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Off rails, there's one outfit that really 'gorks' me in the opposite direction. That is Bank of America.
There are enough times that all I want to do is check my credit card balance so that I can reconcile their records to mine. In this case, all I want is the 'robogal'. But I end up being routed to a live person. That of course means the array of security questions; when I have said 'all I want is my balance; where is your automated system?', I get back 'Oh, we just like to keep in personal touch with our customers'...AND THEN....it time for the sales pitch for whatever they're pushing today...balance transfers, 0% introductory rate, credit life insurance...NOW you get the info you want.
Who needs that kind of tripe?
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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Richard, That's incredibly useful information. I can't imagine how you found it, but thanks for sharing. Tom
Posts: 518 | From: Maynard, MA, USA | Registered: Sep 2000
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GBN, why not try to check BofA online? That's truly painless and also great for bill paying. But, when I need live support my preference is to talk in person with the head teller in our usually mostly empty local branch = part of the pleasures of small town living. Our chat today lasted almost a half hour because of an obscure transaction I needed to make, but also caught up on local news.
Likewise I don't believe I've used Julie since the Amtrak app came out when checking train status or planning a trip. But for making or changing a reservation seems like it's always easier to talk with a real person to get the best room and discuss options. Glad to hear about the shortcut, thanks Richard.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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A couple of years, back, I had a frustrating experience not with Bank of America, but with Wells Fargo Bank.
I have 2 credit cards through Wells Fargo. WFB likes you to call them, when leaving for another country, to inform them of the country you will be visiting. The reason, which I think is a good idea, is so WFB won't question transactions, in the country, as to whether the transaction is legit. A couple of years ago I went up to Canada to take the VIA train from Vancouver to Jasper. I tried to call Wells Fargo, before the trip, to advise them I would be making charges in BC and Alberta. I got a phone tree and tried to find the proper tree branch for informing them of potential Canada transactions. Not only did I not find the right branch, but I couldn't even get the "please wait while we transfer you to a customer rep" (real live person). I found no such prompt. In desperation, I went into my local WFB branch and the guy, there, couldn't get anything but the robot tree. Eventually I found out that if you say "representative", at any point, you get connected to a real, live person. Really frustrating.
Richard
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
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Gilbert, Richard, It seems like we all have our bank stories. Those are institutions that we love to hate!
Just to pull this back, briefly, to Amtrak: I'll be taking CONO on 6/12. Presumably, the tail end will include 2 IC cars? Anyway, Gilbert, I'll give you a full report after the ride.
Tom
Posts: 518 | From: Maynard, MA, USA | Registered: Sep 2000
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(I much prefer the URL itself to show in all posts I make, so folk can decide if it is a safe site to click on.)
Posts: 211 | From: California | Registered: Dec 2004
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