Even with the tough economic times during this holiday season, surely some folks are going to get new gadgets.

Inevitably, those folks are going to experience some kind of problem. They're going to have to call for help.

While this may be akin to pulling teeth for some folks, there are some tips you should follow when calling for technical support.

First, be polite and understand who you're dealing with.

Yelling and screaming will do no good. You will probably be talking to an entry-level employee.

Furthermore, there is a good chance that the person you're speaking to is not in the United States.

While some folks think they can quickly get around these facts, it is typically not worth the effort to do so.

Entry-level personnel, whether in America or not, are usually trained to follow a documented set of procedures, like a flowchart.

The majority of problems are fixable by following this flowchart. It may seem like you're going nowhere, but if the person receiving your call seems to be following a script, that's a good thing.

Don't try and jump-start the process by providing information that you think is relevant.

Have something to write with, and something to write on prior to initiating your call.

Log all of your calls to the help desk, including, time, date, and person answering. Virtually every help desk staffer answers with his or her name. If not, simply ask for it.

What do you do if your problem is not solved?

Get a tracking or reference number so that if you have to call back, your information hasn't been lost.

Most help desks will provide you a tracking number immediately. Others may simply ask you to refer to your customer or account number.

Ask if there is an estimated time of resolution. If not, find out how you can get a status update.

Usually, if your problem is not solved, it is being assigned to someone more skilled than the person who answered the phone.

If you feel that your problem has not, or will not be addressed satisfactorily, you can always ask to speak to a supervisor.

We recommend using this phrase only under limited circumstances. Primary on this list of circumstances is if you feel that you have been treated rudely.

Another instance is if you feel that the company is not fulfilling its obligations, such as answering any of the queries described above.

  If your problem has gone on for longer than originally estimated, inquire into the escalation procedure.

An escalation procedure defines how high up the chain you go, and in what time frame.

Theoretically, as your problem goes higher up in an organization, more attention will be paid to it.

Note that there are alternatives to calling for technical support, such as using chat or e-mail.

We believe, however, that for the time being, phone calls are still the most efficient way to solve such problems.