Obtains by means of, when one manages to speak to (4,7)

I believe the answer is:

gets through

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'one manages to speak to' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'obtains by means of' is the wordplay.
'obtains' becomes 'gets' ('get' can be a synonym of 'obtain').
'by means of' becomes 'through' (I've seen this before).
'gets'+'through'='GETS THROUGH'

'when' acts as a link.

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I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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