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VRS Tip: Navigating Phone Trees
Phone trees (or Automated Phone Systems) can sometimes be unavoidable, but we have three tips to make them go smoothly.

When you call a business, it’s very likely that you’ll reach an automated phone system, or phone tree, that you need to navigate by pressing numbers. It’s frustrating for everyone!

The key to getting through phone trees is to work as a team with your interpreter. These tips will make navigating phone trees with an interpreter easier:

  1. Before the call, let your interpreter know why you’re calling. Do you need to make an appointment, check the status of an order, or talk to a specific person or department?
  2. If you already know how to navigate this particular phone tree you can tell the interpreter beforehand.  
  3. Try to be patient. Sometimes automated phone system don’t allow you to select an option until the whole recording has finished, so your interpreter may not be able to move through the menu any faster.
    Some phone trees also don’t have an option to connect to a live person.

When you work together with your interpreter, any VRS call goes smoother.

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