I had what must rate as one of the most stupid phone calls of all time yesterday.
I came home between lessons and the second I walked through the door someone shouted “you’re wanted on the phone – HFC Bank”. Being caught like this by what are usually junk-calls is always going to get me angry, but I’d spoken with HFC an hour or so earlier so I took it.
Caller: Is that Mr ********?
Me: Yes.
Caller: Mr ***** *******?
Me: Yes.
Caller: [silence]
Me: Hello? [pause] Hello? [pause]
Caller: [recorded message – along the lines of…] If you wish to proceed press 1
Me: [presses 1] Hello? [pause] Hello? [pause] HELLO?
Caller: recorded message] Please press 1 to speak to a representative, press 2…
Me: [presses 1]
Caller: [recorded message] Sorry, but your call cannot be taken at the moment.
I swore and slammed the phone down. If it was HFC, then they are bloody idiots.
As it happens, I got another call while I was writing this just now. Again it was on the landline. I went down (my PC is upstairs):
Me: Hello? [pause] Hello? [pause] Hello? [pause]
There’s no one there, so I slammed the receiver down again.
I’ve given strict intructions now that if anyone calls me on the damned landline they are to be told that they can call me on my mobile, because anyone who needs to contact me will have my mobile number.
Mind you, ever since I put that advert in Yellow Pages several years ago the number of spam phone calls has gone through the roof. You often answer one of those to be met by silence.