this post was submitted on 04 Jul 2023
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You Should Know

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YSK - for all the things that can make your life easier!

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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

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[–] [email protected] 265 points 1 year ago (3 children)

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??!?

[–] [email protected] 123 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Buried underneath “LPT: Being nice to others is free.”

[–] [email protected] 37 points 1 year ago (3 children)

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"

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

"LPT: Not spending money is a great way of saving money!"

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

LPT: The first rule of tautology club is the first rule of tautology club.

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[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 year ago (1 children)

"LPT: If I was your friend, you could invite me places"

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

"LPT: hey, it's me, ur brother"

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

It's me, hi, I'm the problem it's me.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago

arrgghh.. .yes, I really do not miss those 'Captain Obvious LPTs'.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 year ago

For real, was just about to say something similar. This is actually an amazing tip, not "LPT: Remember other people exist"

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 145 points 1 year ago (5 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 56 points 1 year ago

Thanks, this is kind of a huge detail that was left out.

[–] [email protected] 29 points 1 year ago

Yeah, back in the day of dial-up connections, we used to insert two commas

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago

Yes, you have to test it. Sometimes two or more commas work best depending on the system.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

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?

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Some source suggested around 2 seconds.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I forget but you can "hear" the pause and when it dials the next number. It didn't feel especially long

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago

Yep, you’d see this used most often with fax machines if the receiver was an IVR.

[–] [email protected] 53 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (5 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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!

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

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"

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Oh yes, I use 'hold' feature often. Good stuff.

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[–] bdonvr 53 points 1 year ago (4 children)

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 ,,,1,

You'll have to do some experimenting to get the delay right.

But now I can call work handsfree.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

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

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

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

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Can you put multiple commas in a row for a longer wait?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

Yes. Usually 1-2s per comma.

[–] bdonvr 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Yep! As shown in my example with three commas

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 51 points 1 year ago (1 children)

For the Android dialer, hold the star (*) key to input the comma into your number.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago

wow,

it poped hamburger menu next to it and offered to add 2 sec pause(,) or wait(;).

tnx

android 2 sec wait option

[–] [email protected] 48 points 1 year ago

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

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.

[–] [email protected] 38 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago
[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago

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.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago
[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

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.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

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#

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

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

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