(Washington DC) The Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) recently launched a new customer-service focused telephone system.

Faster access to crucial information is a hallmark of DCRA's new system. More customers will be able to get through to the agency because the system handles a much higher call volume. Menu prompts smoothly guide customers through DCRA's many functions including, licensing, corporate registration, commercial and residential housing inspection requests and permits.

The menu prompts contain prerecorded information answering some of the most-asked questions District residents and businesses have about DCRA. Calls are more quickly routed to relevant areas.

"DCRA is committed to delivering excellent customer service and this upgraded telephone system moves the agency closer to that goal," said Acting Director Linda K. Argo. "After more than a year of hard work to bring this system online, DCRA now ranks among the top 20 DC agencies in handling call performances," said Argo.

The new system significantly increased the customer experience and internal productivity. In October 2006, DCRA answered 93 percent of calls; that rate has increased to almost 100 percent since the new system's launch. Call volume increased from an average of 200 calls per day to an average of 300 calls per day.

DCRA is now able to closely monitor call types and volumes so that areas that receive high call volumes can be identified–and augmented if necessary. DCRA will also be able to use information from the new system to more accurately target educational campaigns.

Call DCRA at (202) 442-4400.

DCRA hours:

• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
• Thursdays: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm