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5 tips for better customer service

We asked industry insiders what they do to get better service. Here are their suggestions.

• Before you dial, see if there are better options, including chat, messaging, self-service websites and schedule-a-call services.

• Customers receive the fastest support when reaching out at 2 p.m., according to Zendesk.

• Be prepared to repeat yourself: Most companies aren't sophisticated enough to know about the last time you called or to connect you across all their different forms of contact.

• If you're trying to quit a service and get sent to someone for hard sell, just politely say you know it is a win-back line and you're really not interested in the service any more.

• The emergency button is Twitter. You can always tweet at a company, or its CEO — most are looking out for it. Just remember whatever you're saying is public.

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