rep surfing
pp. Phoning a customer service line repeatedly until you get a representative who is willing to handle your request, such as authorizing a refund.
Examples
2011
Wow, no luck rep surfing. I have never dealt with a more intransigent, stubborn bunch of customer service reps than Verizon's.
2010
Never got an e-mail or a mailer, so I've been told by no less than 5 different reps that I'm not eligible for the promotion (even though I have a $350 / mo bill and have been a customer for 15 yrs). Are people who are succeeding calling *611 or the 877 number that is in the ad? Any other ideas on getting this, other than to keep rep surfing?
—Al Byndy, “New Unlimited Plan from Big Red?,” Droidforums, November 11, 2010
1997 (earliest)
Rep Surfing
To repeatedly call a toll-free customer-service line until you get a representative who will do what you want, such as cancel a bill or authorize a refund.
—Gareth Branwyn, “Jargon Watch,” Wired, December 01, 1997
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