Needs An Appointment To Set An Appointment

(I work at a hospital that sends text messages to patients to remind them of their upcoming appointments. The texts are one week in advance and include the day, date, and location. Patients then usually ring to confirm they are coming.)

Me: “Hello, this is [Clinic].”

Customer: “Yeah, I got a phone call from you guys saying that I had an appointment today.”

Me: “Okay, let me see if I can find out about that for you.”

(I proceed to find her account and see that she has an appointment in one week’s time.)

Me: “I can see that you have an appointment on the 14th, which is next week. When did you get this phone call?”

Customer: “Just like five minutes ago.”

Me: “Okay, so, could it actually have been a text message that you received?”

Customer: “Yeah.”

Me: “And what did that message say?”

Customer: “Something about that I have an appointment on the 14th.”

Me: “Okay, so, what about that made you think you have an appointment today?”

Customer: “…” *hangs up*

(I wish I could say this is rare. But it just isn’t.)