h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Thanks for letting us know that this plague doesn't only exist in the U.S.! I was beginning to think that we were more screwed up than the rest of the world.

I, however, have found myself totally incapable of not screaming at the automated voice that informs me (after pushing 15 or so numbers to get recordings that don't answer my question at all) that I am next in line to speak to an operator that is now busy assisting others.

If they'd just give us the option of speaking to someone in the beginning of the call, then maybe we wouldn't be snarling by the time we actually got some poor soul who get minimum wage to be treated badly. Just give me a human being - Please!

Sadly, I suspect that evil corporate schemes to save money by employing as few humans as possible are much the same all over the world. One of my favourite cartoon strips is "Dilbert" - it may be set in America, but I can totally relate to it because of my own experiences working in Britain!