2y ago

YSK: Commas can be used in phone numbers to automatically input automated menu options

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

56 comments

Huh. Apparently we justed needed to start a new platform to start dropping the real life pro tips. Seriously, where have you guys been keeping these??!?
- Buried underneath “LPT: Being nice to others is free.”
  
  My favorite was people clearly trying to rephrase popular posts for cheap upvotes
  "LPT: Spending money is something you don't have to do every day"
  "LPT: wasting money is financially detrimental"
  "LPT: Saving money is a good way to save money"
  
  "LPT: If I was your friend, you could invite me places"
  
  arrgghh.. .yes, I really do not miss those 'Captain Obvious LPTs'.
- For real, was just about to say something similar. This is actually an amazing tip, not "LPT: Remember other people exist"
- We're already at the point where maybe we shouldn't make this platform too popular because then every hobby sub will have the words "first time" and every other sub will be full of hate

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.
- Thanks, this is kind of a huge detail that was left out.
- Yeah, back in the day of dial-up connections, we used to insert two commas
- Yes, you have to test it. Sometimes two or more commas work best depending on the system.
- 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?
  
  Some source suggested around 2 seconds.
- Yep, you’d see this used most often with fax machines if the receiver was an IVR.

Having a Pixel phone is always so great for calling these types of numbers. If it's a popular enough number, it will show on the screen like text messages of all the # options as soon as it connects if it knows it. If it doesn't it will still display voice to text so you don't have to try and remember the best option. It will even "hold" for you and when someone picks up on the business's end it will let them know you'll pick up in a second and notify you. Sometimes it will even have info on the current average wait time.
It's made calling companies so much nicer.
- That and the call screening! Anyone not in my contacts gets to talk to the Google AI, haven't been bothered by spam calls in years!
  
  It's funny to read the transcripts of my scam calls "helo this is Amazon we want to confirm order of appel macbook pro for 195,824$ please confirm thank you"
- Oh yes, I use 'hold' feature often. Good stuff.
- May I ask what pixel do you have? I’ve been on the fence for a long time about buying one and I’m interested in those features you mentioned, but I’ve heard they have some issues such as overheating and bad battery life, at least for the 6.
  
  I'm on a Pixel 7 Pro. I really enjoy it. The camera is amazing and a lot of the Google features are really handy. Handy enough that it will be difficult to go with another brand I think.
  It is also nice getting all of the newest Google features as they come out too! Though I do usually try and change manufacturers every time I get a new phone. I like trying new stuff out though.

You should mention that the commas just make the phone wait a second or two before continuing dialing.
For my work I have to press "1" then the extension number. But you have to wait for an opening message before it will allow you to press "1"
My contact for my workplace is
<phone number>
,,,1,
<extension>

You'll have to do some experimenting to get the delay right.
But now I can call work handsfree.
- With every answering system having a 65 hour long COVID policy update added to their intro in both English and French (Canadian here), my number would have to look like
  , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,1
- I believe a semi-colon means your phone waits to send the next string of numbers until you tell it to so you can still have everything queued up and just listen instead of trying to pre-program the timing
- Can you put multiple commas in a row for a longer wait?
  
  Yes. Usually 1-2s per comma.
  
  Yep!
- With every answering system having a 65 hour long COVID policy update added to their intro in both English and French (Canadian here), my number would have to look like
  ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,1

For the Android dialer, hold the star (*) key to input the comma into your number.
- wow,
  it poped hamburger menu next to it and offered to add 2 sec pause(,) or wait(;).
  tnx

FYI, the comma comes from the old Hayes modem command language.
undefined

ATDTnumber,,option,option
ATtention Dial Tone number pause pause option pause option
Each comma was about a 2 second pause. You can use multiple commas for longer pauses.

Wow, this place is like life hacks, but not terrible!

some more details https://www.computerhope.com/tips/tip232.htm

I had a job a few years ago where my account kept getting locked out (their IT security department was kinda paranoid and basically everything could get you locked out). I used this to crest a shortcut on my phone to call their automated help desk line and enter in my employee id / dob/ whatever else they needed to unlock my account, at one point it was happening several times a day. Left that job shortly after thankfully

Another thing to add, if you put a semicolon instead of a comma, on Android at least it will stop and pop up a prompt that you can hit continue for it to keep dialing the rest of the digits.

That is a crazy tech tip, thank you so much, my mind is blown

Whaaat

I have been using commas to dial with my comms system and was really proud of myself when I figured it out. Now I feel like a dumbass not even thinking about using it for a regular phone.

I used this at work; I saved a number to login to my conference call (pre-video conferencing) and actually join with prompts.

You can also automate those USSD menus (the menus that show up when you dial a specific number
For example
#[number here]*[menu option]#
So say if you had to dail #100# to get a menu and then type in 2 to recharge your credit youd type
#100*2#

It's a good tip, but nowadays a lot of apps accessing the contacts. Storing secured information on contacts is vulnerable. Please be mind it.

Damn, this is mindblowing. How have I gotten through life without knowing this!

56 comments