Shortcuts catalogued to bypass the automated phone maze But the new service informs callers that the combination 1-3-2-1-1-5-4 will get them straight through - saving over four minutes of waiting. He said: "Everyone knows that calling your insurance or gas company is a pain but for most, it's not an everyday problem. However, the cumulative effect of these calls is really quite devastating when you're moving house or having an issue. Mr Clarke, who has been working on the list for seven years, cites the HMRC as one of the worst offenders - where callers can take up to six minutes to reach the correct department. As one of the UK's busiest call centres, the Revenue receives 79 million calls per year, or a potential 4.3 million working hours just navigating menus. Mr Clarke believes that with better menu design, at least three million caller hours could be saved here alone. He said he became increasingly "frustrated" by the lists. I thought to myself 'Why don't companies make life easy for their customers and simply show me the menu options before I call so I know what numbers to press to get through much more quickly?'. I realised I could often save a minute or two at least per call. That soon adds up in time and money with all the calls I make each year. During his research Mr Clarke also discovered that two thirds of call centres (68%) use introductions or additional advertising between options. He has now quit his job as a contract project manager for the UK Power Network and turned his "small personal frustration hobby" into a "passionate personal campaign." Company: Lloyds TSB (0800 0563 040) Issue: Home & Building insurance: report water leak damaging property Usually takes: Over four minutes, 78 menu options over 7 levels Dial shortcut: 1-3-2-1-1-5-4 Company: HMRC (0845 3000 627) Issue: Income Tax Inquiries For Individuals, Pensioners and Employees Usually takes: 4 minutes 35 seconds, 74 menus over 6 levels Dial shortcut: 1-Hold-1-3-2-2