AppleCare Assistance technique

I never have to think twice about calling Apple because they generally provide pretty streamlined customer service. I did have a little road bump today because it advised me to go online for support, which Apple usually doesn't do, so I am not sure if it's because this is not normally the phone number I called. However, I was able to request further support and then easily got to someone to talk about my issue. With that in mind, I would call Apple again because, overall, my issue was resolved, and it didn't take too much time out of my day. 

I needed help with an in-app purchase that my daughter made while using my phone. Granted, I should have my phone purchases password-protected, but my children aren't generally on my phone, and I didn't really think about it. I wanted to see if I could get a refund, so I called Apple support to figure out how to do it. When I called, I was greeted with a standard message about privacy and was told that the voice assistant is an automated system that can handle complete sentences. It then asked me, "How can I help?" and I responded by saying, "Help with an App."

That was not the right thing to say if you want to talk to a customer representative apparently because it told me that "Support for iTunes and the app store is available online, please visit getsupport.apple.com for help" and then offered to send me a link to my phone via SMS text. I declined the offer to send me the link, and it asked, "How else can I help?" This time, I kept it simple and stated, "Talk to a customer representative." That seemed to work because it said, "I will get you right over to a customer representative," and then it asked me for a consent notification on my devices to verify my identity. 

As always, that was fast and easy as a notice popped up on my phone and watch, and I simply pressed confirmed. It was interesting that it remembered the last time I called was about my Apple Watch and asked if that was the reason for my call. I told the voice assistant no, and it said, "Okay, I'll get an advisor for help." Then I had to listen to the privacy rights speech, and it told me to hold to talk to an Apple Care advisor. It also gave me the option of listening to modern, classic, jazz or silence while I waited, which is always a treat. It took about two minutes, and a customer service rep named Aria picked up. She sounded a bit bored but answered my questions and guided me in the right direction, so I can't complain.