This is why people ask so many questions about Social Security- ! hr 15 min wait phone time (state, date)

[SierraCountyMtnBiker]

Just an FYI

And this is after they've had you go thru many prompts, hitting this or that button which doesn't apply

Then even asking for your SS upfront though the question is just a general question

No call back feature to keep your place in line like ebay has. Hmmm....

So...though I am home today purposefully so we can place a bid on a house, I need to keep the phone open. So waiting 1 hr 15 min isn't ok. But a call back to answer two quick questions would take up maybe 5 min time keeping the phone open.

I've also noticed when I take PTO and schedule it for medical needs, I need to keep the phone open. I cannot be gone long because it usually involves staying by the phone keeping it open. So cannot sit for 1 hr 15 minutes to wait.

They really do not want to hear from us.

In 2017...really, no call back feature?? and no way to just email questions?? And the "Chat lady" cannot answer it either? Simple questions that I do not need to give personal info for??

So many changes with SS. Who knows what to believe.... End of Rant thx for listening~

[mathjak107]

sounds like my call when we needed a certain dept. at vanguard . except they gave no wait time. we hung up after calling 2x with the longest hold on speaker phone 1hr 15 min .

we have been lucky ,even here in nyc we got someone within about 10 minutes on the phone at ss.

are they questions we can answer here ?

[mschrief]

I have not had this issue. When I called for an appointment to apply (which I did today), I was given the option to hold or be called back in a particular amount of time (1 hour).

I chose the call back option and the call came as expected.

Very nice people, I set up an appointment. Went today, took my number, waited maybe five minutes and went right in and was seen by a lovely young woman who was professional and kind.

Very good experience!

[mathjak107]

we set up an appointment on the phone with ss to establish my wifes spousal . they gave us a date and time .

they called on that day to the minute .

[luv4horses]

The waiting for more than an hour is bad enough, but do they need to play that obnoxious "music"? Totally keeps you from being able to concentrate on another task while you are waiting.

[mathjak107]

at least you got music .all we got for an hour and 15 minutes from vanguard was silence and an occasional please hold ,all customer service people are assisting other customers

[NYgal1542]

Then there's the "Your call is important to us; please continue to hold."

[luv4horses]

Originally Posted by mathjak107

at least you got music .all we got for an hour and 15 minutes from vanguard was silence and an occasional please hold ,all customer service people are assisting other customers

That would definitely be preferable.

But I get your angst too. At least they could tell you how many callers were ahead of you.

[mathjak107]

They just had no one answering the dept. Phone evidently and just let you hang

[Lodestar 77]

The end of July I called to schedule an appointment as recommended. I forget how long I was on hold, but when the guy came on he was in another state. After giving him my local SS office info, he checked and informed me the soonest appointment was Sept. 25! Forget that, I went in person and got my answers, came home, filled out the required paperwork, and already received a letter with the approval.