In a misguided focus on cost, service companies make it difficult for callers to reach live human beings. The philosophical issues involved in erecting barriers to service is a subject of another posting.
This entry merely points to a solution. Paul English has posted the numbers to push to reach live humans at many different companies.
Use his IVR cheatsheet to talk to a live person. (I just hope the person is live AND not living in India!)
And, check out http://clicheideas.com/amazon.htm to find phone numbers to use for Amazon.com.