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| October 21, 2004
, 2:09 PM |
Unsolicited
Ever since I have taken this new phone number I have been plagued with 2-3 telemarketing calls every single day. Sometimes they can be pretty irritating. I mean you are in the bathroom the only person at the office and the phone rings off the hook. I get calls from prospective clients in the day so here I am stuck in a pretty bad position (quite literally) realizing I shall never make it in time. I curse. Later I go back look at the caller ID on the phone and call back. I am put through a voice menu(with no announcement of where this number is at),then on hold for 10 minutes and then a chap picks up the phone
The chap : Hello
Me : Hello this is Rahul here from i-Script.
The chap : “Who is this?”
Me : This is Rahul. I just received a call from your number and I was calling back because I couldn’t take it then.
The chap : “oh yes sorry Sir (shifting to rote at this point) I am calling about so and so would you be interested in….”
I am slowly grinding my teeth.
Then there is this amazing type of caller who will try his best to make you feel like you have committed some grave public wrongdoing and are being called about a proceedings about to take place
“Hello may I speak with the manager please” (In an extremely authoritative tone bordering on rude)
“Yes you may speak to me. This is Rahul” (Wondering what this is about)
“Rahul would you be interested in buying…….”
I am slowly grinding my teeth.
Then there are the callers who will not take no for an answer (especially from my long distance provider). I have received 4 calls from 4 different people in that company even after having explicitly saying “I am not interested at this time. I have your number. I will call back next month after I look at my phone bill.” to every one of them. I bet I am going to get some more.
Finally after putting some thought to it this system seems to be working:
Caller : Hello could I speak to the manager or the decision maker please.
Me (in an extremely nice voice) : I am terribly sorry he is not available right now. Could I take a message.
Caller : Sir I am calling from XYZ. Is there another time I can reach him.
Me (in an extremely nice voice) : Yes definitely. You could call Saturday afternoon around 3pm and he should be here at that time. He won’t be available the rest of the week.
Caller : I am not sure I can call then Sir. Is there any other time.
Me (in an extremely nice voice) : Yes. Yes. Absolutely. Why don’t you try Sunday.
Caller : Thank you sir.
They never call back.
Now sometimes I get caught. The chap already knows my name and it is difficult to avoid the stuff that follows.
Caller : Hello may I speak to Mr.Rahul please.
Me : This is Rahul here
Caller : Sir I am calling from XYZ to inform you that you have been pre-approved for ABCD card. Would you like to….
Me : I am sorry. Who is this again? I didn’t catch the name.
Caller : Sir this is Edwardo from XYZ. I am calling regarding…blah blah blah…
Me (Interrupting in a very nice voice): Edwardo is that a Spanish name?
Caller : No sir. The ABCD card that….
Me (Interrupting in a very nice voice) : Edwardo..Edwardo…that is a really nice name. Say are you positive it not Spanish. You are English then.
Caller : No Sir. I am from here. Sir may I explain….
Me (Interrupting) : What do you mean by here? You are calling from Florida?
Caller : No Sir.
Me : Minnesota then?
Caller : No Sir. Sir regarding this card…
Me (Interrupting) : I get a lot of calls from Florida you know. I thought there was a hint of a Spanish accent there. Miami you know….
Caller (Finally getting the message) : Thank you for your time sir. Do give us a call should you be interested.
I have a hearty laugh.
I have another formula I think that might work. I am going to keep saying “Hello Hello Hello” repeatedly the moment they identify themselves. The only problem is they will call right back.
I have this hope that there is a tele-marketing blacklist and soon will be put on it and finally get some peace. |
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October 21, 2004 
