Remember the days when you'd call for customer serivce....

[MissMillie]

... and you'd actually get some service?

My dad turned 87 on Wednesday. He worked in a wood shop for years and back then no one ever thought he should be wearing protection for his ears. He doesn't hear very well.

Mom is 84 and has Alzheimer's Disease.

Last week my dad asked me to see how he could replace his remote for his DirectTV. It wasn't working properly. He tried calling them but he got the automated "press (x) for....." crap.

He couldn't (and shouldn't) have to deal w/ that.

He gave me the phone number that he called and I did get a human on the line. This human did nothing to tell me about how to get him a new remote. She tried to sell an insurance plan ($100) to cover all of his DirectTV equipment. While she was making her sales pitch she said that my folks may already be paying a monthly fee to cover the equipment. Well, are they or aren't they?

If our economy has gone from manufacturing to service, then why the %*#@)!^ can't we get some service?

[Arkansas Granny]

1. I have wasted a lot of time going through automated customer "service".

There have been a few occasions where none of the choices seemed right for my situation. I've found that if even if you hit the wrong buttons, once you get to an actual human, they can usually transfer your call to the right department.

It' is infuriating to spend 10+ minutes just going through menu choices just to hear that your call will be answered in the order it was received and that you are #39 in line.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Here are some ways to avoid the automated directory hassle:

http://www.dialahuman.com/

[rsdsharp]

3. I just buy them on Amazon. It's cheap and a lot easier than trying to deal with DirecTV for service

https://www.amazon.com/DIRECTV-Rc66X-Remote-Control-Programmable/dp/B00I4L2TXS/ref=sr_1_12?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1530553907&sr=1-12&keywords=directv+remote

An RC65 is $6.80

[Wellstone ruled]

7. Works for me,done this for years.

As for direct tv,your call usually gets about three reroutes before someone comes on line.

[Siwsan]

4. Don't even get me started on Direct TV's customer service.

The worst CS experience I ever had was with them. Rude responses, even when we asked to speak to the manager. Actually, he was ruder than the CS rep. We canceled them the second we could without being penalized.

When I dropped my AT&T service they tried o schmooze me into signing on to Direct TV. I gave them an earful about my experience. Finally got a so-so apology but suffice it to say they won't be contacting me, again.

[Wellstone ruled]

8. Another satified coustomer,

he he. Yes they are a nasty bastard to deal with.

[RestoreAmerica2020]

5. My experience with cable tv, internet is once youre in their snare

..they treat you like crap,bad service, hidden costs and gawd forbid you have a complaint. Universal free basic cable, internet should available to all citizens... just like basic tv...

[KT2000]

6. I've had good service with DISH

It might be confusing to change but I always got a human who worked with me until any problem was fixed - and with courtesy.

[mnhtnbb]

9. One of my pet peeves...and I'm only 67.

[Mr.Bill]

10. Direct TV does not replace faulty remotes for free.

You have to pay for a new one, and Amazon is the cheapest I've found.

[MissMillie]

14. I get that... but....

my folks may already be paying money to cover it... but the "customer service representative" was so busy trying to sell something that she didn't even look up whether or not they were already covered.

[TNNurse]

11. I will push as many buttons as I need to get a person,

but should not have to do that. The elderly have much more difficulty. If there is an option to speak I always say "I want to speak to a person".

[keithbvadu2]

12. Many times the 'service' has also been outsourced overseas.

"then why the %*#@)!^ can't we get some service?"

Many times the 'service' has also been outsourced overseas.

[Totally Tunsie]

13. To avoid traveling through the menu, you can usually just dial "0"

as soon as the options begin to play and it will take you directly to a CS operator. It's a wonderful shortcut.

Today's "service" often brings to mind this definition of the word: "To copulate with (a female animal). Used of a male animal, especially studs." In short, getting screwed.