Phones vs. face-to-face communication

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I always prefer to speak to people in person instead of call them over the phone because I have to put up with the automated system and then having to wait for long periods of time. Where I work I have a very limited amount of time to get in touch with someone before going back to work, about 15 minutes per break (of which there are two), plus only a half hour for lunch. And I absolutely hate talking on the phone for non-work reasons while working. What can I do?

When I get the automated systems, I keep saying "Speak to representative" each time the system asks a question.

I used to love CB radio for socialising. It's dead now thanks to mobile phones and the internet I put on my 2 metre amateur radio occasionally to hear some friendly voices.

Ugh. Phones. I remember at my last job I'd have customers ring up and talk through my entire lunch break. It was so tempting just to say 'Excuse me. Could you ring back later? I need to eat' but we had to finish each call before going on break. Sometimes I'd conveniently be in the toilets when that customer usually rang. He never knew what he wanted but he would 'know it when he saw it'.

Automated systems can be incredibly annoying. Especially hold music. It's especially bad when it's a good song when played normally, but over the line it just sounds terrible like it's corrupted or something. There's one song that's decent but when it gets to the saxophone part - Why does it sound like screeching? My days. I have to hold the phone away from my ear because of how painful the sound is of that damn song. Feels like an insult to music.

I get bad signal in most places, so it's usually just easier to talk in person when I can. Otherwise it's a game of hearing every second word and guessing what's being communicated. I prefer email, video call or in person. Unexpected surprise interviews over the phone are the freaking worst! Don't do that to me! Ugh.