I had to take care of my last entanglements with Michigan's unemployment agency today. As usual, it was hard to get through.
You dial 1-866-500-0017 and then hit 3 to try to get an agent. And then you listen to Tim Allen for a while on a recording, speaking in somnolent para-Garrison Keillor tones in tourist advertisements aimed at the age 63 to 83 set. I can probably recite his "Pure Michigan" spots from memory, I've heard them so much.
And then you listen to a PSA telling you that census workers are on the prowl, and welcome them when they knock on your door. Does anyone there know that the 2010 Decennial Census has been over for weeks?
Eventually, a recording comes on telling me that there are no agents available, and to hang up and try again. I'm using to going through this cycle so many times, and I did today.
But then I decided to listen beyond the option 3 that I needed. A woman's voice rattled on very fast in Spanish telling me, I suppose, to press 4 for agent in Spanish. I figured, why not? It turned out to be a good idea. The wait was very short, without not even a George Lopez doing the Tim Allen thing.
A live woman then comes on the line and rattles of about 40 Spanish words in the space of 3 seconds. I manage to get in "Hola! But I speak English only. Can you please help me?". She eassily switched to English and helped me out.
One thing I will say about the Michigan unemployment agency, is that even though it is so hard to get through, the staffers that answer the phone are usually very helpful and knowledgable.
So remember if you need to get through on this line: press 4 and say "Hola". Too bad they don't adequately staff the English-speaking lines, though.
By the way, has anyone ever seen those "Pure Michigan" ads or heard them in the real world? I've only experienced them as a captive audience in a phone wait cue, or on monitors at government offices.
Below is one of the many Pure Michigan spoofs found on Youtube:
And here's the real Tim Allen, who has probably assumed the role of the "Voice of Michigan" now that Ernie Harwell has passed. Here you can see what it is like up here in the middle of nowhere:
Suomi Summer
7 hours ago
7 comments:
That was a good little trick to get someone on the phone fast!
The Pure Michigan ads are all over the buses and trains here in Chicago. Wait, no, those are for Montana. Never mind. But I really think I have seen a Pure Michigan ad somewhere.
Ha ha. It never occurred to me to press the Spanish number...
Ha! That's an awesome idea. The only thing I could ask her in Spanish is "where is the bathroom?".
That Michigan vid is funny.
That was so smart, Dmarks! I wonder if it would work as well in Southern California? I swear I am going to try it next time I get caught up in one of those service cycles...
Oh... I have the same troubles right now. Thanks for the tip. You can bet I will try it.
I've never heard the Tim Allen ads.
I never thought of doing that either. Of course, I'm too busy fuming over why I have to press anything for english in America just to get to speak to someone named Sean in Calcutta.
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