'Do not say anything or push any buttons! It takes awhile, but eventually a human comes on the line!'

Those are your instructions should you call the AT&T Universal Card toll–free telephone number in the hope of speaking to a live person sometime this decade.

This information — and much, much more where that came from — is courtesy of gethuman.com, a website started by Paul M. English to enable you to bypass the infuriating automated interactive voice–response systems of companies who'd much rather not speak with you.

I wrote about English's original list on November 22, 2005, at which time he had 110 companies on his list.

Since that time word has gotten out and there's been a huge upsurge of interest and contributions such that the current cheat sheet numbers nearly 400 companies.

[via William C. Taylor and the New York Times]