...the phone system which allows you to interact with a computer but prevents you from interacting with staff.

Having spoken to a series of automated drones the caller usually ends up disconnected, or a gibbering mental wreck. But now you can avoid this automated maze.

One website has listed some ways to bypass IVR to reach the Holy Grail i.e. a real person. Sometimes these instructions are as simple as “Say "agent" at each prompt” or “Press * at each prompt”.

Although the site features American companies some of them could work over here too. This could be your chance to escape touch tone hell if you don’t mind a bit of experimentation and being stared at you as you strain your fingers “Pressing 000 rapidly and repeatedly”.