This time, it's Amex

How can banks & card companies make it so difficult to contact them?

Amex. I lost the card and wanted to call them to report. The website has a customer service link which lead me to "FAQ" list. After a long-list of questions, one last question there was "Still need help? Speak to our dedicated servicing team who are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week" When I click there I get huge list of options (but no one to speak to):

Do you see any number there? I didn't. A follow-through of these links leads me into an IVR number, that is available only during office hours. The last straw, the IVR asked me (or walked me through) the same types of information (cards/loans, individual/sme, life/death and so on)that the website wanted me to enter.

Why? Why is it so difficult to put one number prominently? Why is it impossible to get to these guys? Finally, why do these companies ignore the fact that we are in a 24X7 world?

Why can't online service be better?

I logged into HP Singapore website today, looking for some enterprise product. Here is what I get:



So, companies in Singapore are supposed to work on EST (Eastern Standard Time) for all their service complaints?

Eating while taking order from a customer

Yesterday, I found a waiter at a sandwich shop (in central business district) taking orders and serving with his mouth full! Not surprisingly, many guys in the queue left without ordering.

This was not one of the street vendor outlets on the road. It was a good restaurant where people pay >$10 for an average sandwich. So, no excuses for bad service.