Getting past automatic telephone systems
I don't know anyone who likes automatic telephone systems where you are given a set of choices and you press buttons to confirm those choices. Paul English is an American who has started to collect techniques to get you past the automated part and speaking to a human as quickly as possible. They are called IVR Cheats and currently there are lots of US cheats but only a few UK ones - however apparently loads more are on the way. Paul English IVR cheat sheet.