For once, I like the automated phone tree

[Rob Base 2.0]

I got an Ebay credit card to get some "free" money (a $50 Ebay gift card) with the plan to cancel the credit card 30 days or so later

So calling to cancel I get the dreaded automated phone tree.  But when I went through the cancellation phone tree I NEVER had to talk to a person....I didn't get pestered with "Why are you cancelling?"    "Are you sure you want to cancel it?"   "What about X benefit?"     and yadda yadda

instead I just got "press 1 to cancel" and then a warning that "you will no longer be able to make charges with this card are you sure you want to cancel? press 1 for yes"    pressed 1 and it was done   "goodbye"   

[Deleted]

Wow- that's usually the guaranteed way to get connected to a human.  They're missing a big marketing opportunity.  Even if they can't talk you into staying (and the cost of  of adding new customers is always a concern for businesses), they might learn why people are leaving.

I once closed out an airline credit card and told the bank that the way they were devaluing miles in the program, earning airline miles was no longer a benefit for me.  She offered me 5,000 miles if I'd stay.

[Rob Base 2.0]

That was my thinking too.....I though fo' shizzle I would be connected to a live dude and have to be rude and cut the dude off, but nope.......I got my 35 cents refund check too as I somehow had a positive balance on that account too

[alabamagal]

I have noticed some automated phone systems where it is pretty obvious that you are talking to a computer.  After you give them an answer, they play this "typing on a keyboard sound".  I wonder how fast a computer types?