A conversation with a cold sales caller...

[fleetfootmike]

Me: (picking up phone on my WORK line which is not in the phonebook) Mike Whitaker
There's a pause, and a click. This usually spells cold sales caller.
Voice: Could I speak to Mrs Whitaker, please?
Me: I'm afraid she's not in.
Pause.
Voice: Could I speak to Mr. Whitaker, please?
Me: Speaking. (thinks: this would be why I answer the phone 'Mike Whitaker', yes?)
Voice: (obviously reading off a script) I represent the airline Ryan Air.
Me: (interrupting) Is this a sales call?
Voice: I'm sorry?
Me: Are you trying to sell me something?
Voice: No, sir.
Me: I see.
Voice: What it is, sir, is that you and your family have been selected by Ryan Air to have an opportunity to apply for the Ryan Air credit card...
Me: Excuse me.
Voice: (continuing with script) This card would give you...
Me: *EXCUSE ME*.
Voice: Sir?
Me: I asked you if this was a sales call. You are evidently trying to sell me a credit card. I would prefer it if you didn't lie to me. Good bye.
.

Comments

[plaid-dragon.livejournal.com]

I still get cold calls for the previous occupants, who had the same phone number but were not ex-directory. Annoyingly, I am now getting cold calls myself, and I _am_ ex-directory. Usually they come from a call centre farmed out to India, and I am finding that the only way to stop them talking is to hang up on them. Politely asking them to go away doesn't work, neither does tight civility, nor downright rudeness. TPS sounds like something I need to investigate.