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Playing With Telemarketers

  • I was at home the other night in the middle of my dinner when the phone rang.

  • ME:

    Hello.

  • AT&T:

    Hello, this is AT&T.

  • ME:

    Is this AT&T.

  • AT&T:

    Yes, this is AT&T ...

  • ME:

    This is AT&T.

  • AT&T:

    Yes, this is AT&T ...

  • ME:

    Is this AT&T.?

  • AT&T:

    Yes! This is AT&T, may I speak to Mr. Byron, please?

  • ME:

    May I ask who is calling?

  • AT&T:

    This is AT&T.

  • ME:

    OK, hold on.

  • At this point I put the phone down for a solid 5 minutes thinking that, surely, this person would have hung up the phone. I ate my salad. Much to my surprise, when I picked up the receiver, they were still waiting.

  • ME:

    Hello?

  • AT&T:

    Is this Mr. Byron?

  • ME:

    May I ask who is calling, please?

  • AT&T:

    Yes, this is AT&T ...

  • ME:

    This is AT&T?

  • AT&T:

    Yes, this is AT&T ...

  • ME:

    The phone company.

  • AT&T:

    Yes, sir.

  • ME:

    I thought you said this was AT&T.

  • AT&T:

    Yes, sir, we are a phone company.

  • ME:

    I already have a phone.

  • AT&T:

    We aren't selling phones today, Mr. Byron. We would like to offer you 10 cents a minute, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

  • ME:

    Now, that's 10 cents a minute, 24 hours a day?

  • AT&T:

    (getting a little excited at this point by my interest) Yes, sir, that's right! 24 hours a day!

  • ME:

    7 days a week.?

  • AT&T:

    That's right.

  • ME:

    365 days a year.?

  • AT&T:

    Yes, sir.

  • ME:

    I am definitely interested in that! Wow!!! That's amazing!

  • AT&T:

    We think so!

  • ME:

    That's quite a sum of money!

  • AT&T:

    Yes, sir, it's amazing how it adds up.

  • ME:

    OK, so will you send me checks weekly, monthly or just one big one at the end of the year for the full $52,560; and if you send an annual check, can I get a cash advance?

  • AT&T:

    Excuse me?

  • ME:

    You know, the 10 cents a minute.

  • AT&T:

    What are you talking about?

  • ME:

    You said you'd give me 10 cents a minute, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. That comes to $144 per day, $1008 per week and $52,560 per year. I'm just interested in knowing how you will be making payment.

  • AT&T:

    Oh, no, sir. I didn't mean we'd be paying you. You pay us 10 cents a minute.

  • ME:

    Wait a minute, how do you figure that by saying that you'll give me 10 cents a minute, that I'll give YOU 10 cents a minute? Is this some kind of subliminal telemarketing scheme? I've read about things like this in the Enquirer, you know.

  • AT&T:

    No, sir, we are offering 10 cents a minute for

  • ME:

    THERE YOU GO AGAIN! Can I speak to a supervisor please?

  • AT&T:

    Sir, I don't think that is necessary.

  • ME:

    I insist on speaking to a supervisor!

  • AT&T:

    Yes, Mr. Byron. Please hold.

  • At this point, I begin trying to finish my dinner.

  • SUPERVISOR:

    Mr. Byron?

  • ME:

    Yeah.

  • SUPERVISOR:

    I understand you are not quite understanding our 10 cents a minute program.

  • ME:

    Is This A T &T?

  • SUPERVISOR:

    Yes, sir, it sure is.

  • ME:

    (I had to swallow before I choked on my food. It was all I could do to suppress my laughter and I had to be Careful not to produce a snort.) No, actually, I was just waiting for someone to get back to me so that I could sign up for the plan.

  • SUPERVISOR:

    Ok, no problem, I'll transfer you back to the person who was helping you.

  • ME:

    Thank you.

  • I was on hold once again and managed a few more mouthfuls. I need to end this conversation. Suddenly, there was an aggravated but polite voice at the other end of the phone.

  • AT&T:

    Hello, Mr. Byron, I understand that you are interested in signing up for our plan.?

  • ME:

    No, but I was wondering - do you have that "Friends and Family" thing because I'm an only child and I'd really like to have a little brother...

  • AT&T:

    *click*

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