(I currently share an office with [Coworker #1], and [Coworker #2] sits just outside. [Coworker #1] is having some problems with a project and has been asking me to put her out of her misery for a few hours.)
Coworker #1: *sighs* “[My Name], I need you to just take me out.”
Me: *immediately* “Sorry, you’re not my type.”
(There was a moment of silence before [Coworker #2] started laughing and [Coworker #1] decided to just ignore me.)
(It seems that prerecorded callers are getting smarter every day, since they’ve started to build in responses like, “You know, you’re talking to a real person,” and “Hello? Are you there?” when I either don’t respond immediately or start talking over them, asking if they’re a robot. But none of them can pass the litmus test I’ve started using. I’m at my desk at work when my cell phone rings. It’s not an 800 number, and I’ve gotten a ton of similar calls from seemingly-normal numbers which turn out to be robocalls. I answer, expecting that this won’t take more than a few moments, since it’s probably just a robot.)
Me: “Hello?”
Caller: “Hi. Is this [Not My Name]?”
Me: “I’m sorry, you must have the wrong number.”
Caller: *without missing a beat or acknowledging that I’ve said it’s the wrong number* “Oh, well, I’m hoping to update this account information. This [Charity] is—“
Me: *interrupting* “Are you a robot? Can you hear me?” *repeated a couple times, attempting to interrupt and see if it’s a simple recording*
Caller: *after a few seconds* “Sorry, but I’m not a robot.”
Me: “Okay, then say the phrase, ‘chicken sandwich,’ if you’re not a robot.”
Caller: *tries to go into charity spiel again*
Me: “Say, ‘chicken sandwich,’ if you’re not a robot.”
(I interrupt with this request a couple more times, with no acknowledgement from the other end of the call.)
Caller: *eventually* “Have a nice day.” *hangs up*
(Since the person couldn’t follow a simple instruction to say a simple phrase, I could only assume it was a recording. I called back the number and got a recording and a message that said, “If you’re on the National Do-Not-Call List–” I am! “–and wondering why we’re calling you, it’s because charities are exempt.” I waited until it gave me the option to press a number to remove my name from their call list. Hopefully now the calls will stop, at least from whoever this was. It’s frustrating, especially because they seem adamant about keeping up this farce that they’re not using robocalls. Either that, or the person really was unable to say the phrase “chicken sandwich.”)
(I have been on the call with a client for about half an hour, going over some information prior to his appointment. He has asked me to give him directions to our offices, but refuses to tell me where he is. After a few minutes of back and forth, my manager signals me.)
Me: “Um, do you mind if I put you on speaker? My manager believes he might be able to help.”
Client: “Yes, please. Thank God — a man who will be able to give directions.”
(I put him on speaker.)
Manager: “You just need to take a left, and then it’s the third right.”
Client: “THANK YOU!”
(I look at him confused, but he motions to keep quiet. The client asks about a roundabout, and my manager says to take the second exit. After about a minute the client speaks again.)
Client: “WHAT THE F*** IS THIS? YOU’VE TAKEN ME TO A DUMP!”
Manager: *laughing* “Yup, that sounds like exactly where you need to be. Good luck!” *ends the call* “I don’t think that could have ended better.”
Me: “How did you know where he was?”
Manager: “I don’t, and I never will now.”
(I park in the disabled bay in front of the office like I do every morning. I’m disabled and have a blue badge on display in the car. I notice a laminated sign someone has stuck on the end of the space saying, “Pregnant employees ONLY.” Figuring it has blown over from one of the regular parking bays I just put it carefully to one side and go into work. Coming out later that afternoon I find a parking ticket on my car! I take it into the security office and say this is obviously a mistake.)
Me: “Okay, think you got the wrong car, mate. I’m in the disabled bay with a disabled permit, so I’ve not done anything wrong.”
Security: “Did you see the sign this morning? ‘Pregnant employees only.’ You’re going to have to park in that disabled bay over the road.”
(It’s a four-lane dual carriageway.)
Me: “Is someone in the office disabled due to being pregnant or something?”
Security: “No, but she wants a guaranteed parking spot close to the building, so we’re using the disabled bay for now.”
Me: “I’m not paying this fine, you know, and I’m going to keep parking in that bay unless someone else has a disabled permit. If they do, then we can talk and work something out about sharing the car space.”
Security: “You keep parking there and we’ll tow your car. We’ve blocked it off for her use only.”
Me: “Let’s see how well that goes when I get the police involved for illegally towing a disabled person’s car. Just block off one of the regular bays if you really have to!”
Security: “No. We’ve chosen this one. You need to park elsewhere.”
Me: “Up yours!”
(Yeah, kind of lost my temper at the end there. I’m not paying the fine, and I will raise absolute chaos if anything happens to my car. We’ll see how this goes.)
Related:
Cause For Pregnant Pause, Part 19
(My husband typically works the day shift at his employer. Two weeks ago, the company got a new contract for a job that requires work be done during the night shift, and my husband, being one of the newer employees, is chosen for the job. Instead of working from six am to six pm, he’s now working from six pm to six am and sleeping during the day while I’m away at work. Unfortunately, this means our original plans for Valentine’s Day are ruined, and while we’re sad about it, we decide to celebrate on a later date. Still wanting to do something, I buy a card for him and place it underneath his phone before I leave for work on Valentine’s Day, hoping he’ll see it when he wakes up. Around noon, I get a phone call from him.)
Husband: “Happy Valentine’s Day. I just wanted to let you know I’m heading into work early today. The new guy broke one of the machines, so I’m going to see if I can fix it before calling in the tech. Good news is that since I’ll be there at one this afternoon, I can leave around midnight rather than stay until six, so I can catch up on sleep. Did you see the card I left you?”
Me: “Umm… What card?”
Husband: “Seriously? I left it right by your purse so you’d see it before you left for work.”
Me: *chuckling* “I’m really sorry. I’ll look for it when I get home. Speaking of which, did you see the card I left you?”
Husband: “Uh…”
Me: “Are you kidding me right now? I left it underneath your phone!”
Husband: *chuckling* “I don’t know what to say. I really don’t.”
Me: “Sheesh. We really belong together, don’t we?”
Husband: “Or we’re just both unobservant.”
Me: “You know what? Don’t ruin the moment on Valentine’s Day.”
(Sure enough, I found his card in the same spot where I left it, and my card was next to where my purse was sitting.)
