Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Buh.

The company I work for has a toll-free number that is only one number off from a major insurance company's toll-free number. Needless to say, we get a fair share of "Hi, I need to change my policy" phone calls.

I got one today.

"Hello, I'd like to make a change to my policy. The policy number is..."

"Sir? I'm sorry. Were you trying to reach Insuranceworld?"

"Yes..." (He was hesitant and apparently confused.)

(I gave a little polite laugh) "Yeah, this happens more than you'd think--you have the wrong number."

"But...this isn't Insuranceworld?" (more confusion.)

"No, this isn't. See, our phone numbers are very similar. Here, the number is (800) 888-8868. Insuranceworld is (800) 888-8869."

"Yeah. 8869...that's what I dialed."

"With all due respect, sir--obviously, you didn't. Because this isn't Insuranceworld. Have a nice day." (click.)

Can I just take a moment here and sit with my mouth gaping open in a blank, dumb, disbelieving stare?

"That's what I dialed?!" Are you kidding me?!

This is what makes my head spin--he thought I was lying? That I secretly work for Insuranceworld but didn't want to help him with his policy so I made up a fake company with a fake phone number? That is way more plausible to him than the possibility that he hit the wrong button while dialing.

Today is going to be one of those days I end up crying in a bathroom stall...

2 comments:

Adam said...

If it makes you feel better, I had a lady dial my number wrong twice in 5 minutes and I told her both times that so-and-so was not the owner of this phone. She had someone else dial the third time (I heard them talking when he told her it was a wrong number). Apparently, she thought he might press the same buttons differently and somehow reach who she wanted.

"Hey, I keep dialing this number and getting the wrong guy, you try."

carly said...

these people vote, adam.

and whatever side you're on--that should scare all of us.