Don't you hate those automated systems when we try to reach a company for one reason or another? Service companies that use them 'claim' that they help the customer. However, many of us think that they are not only an annoyance, a valuable time waster as well.

Any time you dial an 800 number and want to speak to a live person the quickest way possible, try this trick next time: Answer the first prompt (usually requesting your order or account number), always identify yourself as a customer.

If the next round of options does not offer "speak to a representative," and just offers more prompts, push 0 or the *, # or 9 (one at a time) until you get connected to a customer service representative. This process greatly increases your chance of being directed to a live operator by at least 50 percent.