those kinds of people answer phones, too...
i called the department of motor vehicles in the state we'd just left to arrange for the transfer of the truck we'd left behind before moving to germany....it was a simple transaction as i was giving the truck to a friend, not selling it...i just wanted to know what paperwork i should mail to the dmv as i was too far away to come in the office...the lady asked why i couldn't come in to the office and i told her "i'm in germany"...
i swear to holy heaven she said "oh, i don't speak german" and put me on hold...it was a good thing i was on hold because i had no idea how to respond to what she'd said...the supervisor came on the line and we worked it out but i did suggest that she smack her clerk on the back of the head -- not to hurt her, just to move her along...