Just Trying to Make a Phone Call

Making a phone call these days to a company to change information or simply ask a question has turned into a 20 minute ordeal. I just cringe every time I have to call a credit card company, insurance company or financial institution. I am sure they have a reason for using all the automated voice commands but it is extremely annoying. First, they keep talking when you just want to give your information, then they don't understand you, then you have to give your information again when you finally do get a live person - what is the point of giving it all in the beginning if you have to repeat your info again? I don't know about you but I am always pleasantly surprised when a real person is my first point of contact. My time is valuable and spending it talking to an automated person is not how I like to spend it. How about when you call and you spend 10 -15 minutes waiting and then you get disconnected? That can send you right into a tail spin! Then the poor person who ends up finally picking up the phone now is the recipient of both your initial problem and your phone call ordeal! Wouldn't it be nice if we could just go back to talking to a live person right off the bat? It would be much more pleasant and I wouldn't feel so much like just a number.