From Not Always Right: Their Cold Heart Is In Need Of Some Heating
(I work in an office with two coworkers. [Coworker #1] is a nightmare to work with. She constantly needs nudging, telling, reminding, you name it, about her tasks. One afternoon on a freezing day, the phone rings.)
Me: “Thank you for calling [Business]. How can I help you?”
Elderly Woman: “Oh. Is that not [Nationwide Gas Supplier]?”
Me: “No, I’m sorry; it’s [Business]. What number did you dial?”
Elderly Woman: “Oh. I’ve been trying to find their number for a while, and it’s so cold here. I put it down somewhere. Hang on… It was [number].”
Me: “I’m very sorry, but our number’s [number with one digit different]. It’s very similar.”
Elderly Woman: sounds like she’s about to cry “I see. Okay. I’ll try again. Thank you so much.”
Me: “No problem; goodbye.”
(Twenty seconds later, the phone rings.)
Me: “Thank you for calling [Business]. How can I help?”
Elderly Woman: “Hello, dear, I can’t get my boiler working. Would you send someone, please?”
Me: “Hello again, madam. This is [My Name] at [Business]. We spoke a minute ago? Did you misdial again?”
Elderly Woman: “Well, I thought I did it right.” starts dialing the number with me still on the line “There’s zero…” presses zero for about five seconds “And eight…” presses eight for a few seconds “And—”
Me: “Madam? I’m sorry, I’m still on the line so it won’t work; plus, when you do redial, you only need to tap the numbers, not hold them down for so long.”
Elderly Woman: “Ah, I see. Okay. I just tap the numbers and it’ll work.”
Me: “Yes, it should do. Good luck!”
(We say our goodbyes, hang up, and then twenty seconds later, the phone rings.)
Me: “Thank you for calling [Business]. How can I help?”
Elderly Woman: “Oh, hello again, dear. I seem to be struggling here, don’t I? I’m so sorry to trouble you again. I’ll just go and—”
(I work in an office with two coworkers. [Coworker #1] is a nightmare to work with. She constantly needs nudging, telling, reminding, you name it, about her tasks. One afternoon on a freezing day, the phone rings.)
Me: “Thank you for calling [Business]. How can I help you?”
Elderly Woman: “Oh. Is that not [Nationwide Gas Supplier]?”
Me: “No, I’m sorry; it’s [Business]. What number did you dial?”
Elderly Woman: “Oh. I’ve been trying to find their number for a while, and it’s so cold here. I put it down somewhere. Hang on… It was [number].”
Me: “I’m very sorry, but our number’s [number with one digit different]. It’s very similar.”
Elderly Woman: sounds like she’s about to cry “I see. Okay. I’ll try again. Thank you so much.”
Me: “No problem; goodbye.”
(Twenty seconds later, the phone rings.)
Me: “Thank you for calling [Business]. How can I help?”
Elderly Woman: “Hello, dear, I can’t get my boiler working. Would you send someone, please?”
Me: “Hello again, madam. This is [My Name] at [Business]. We spoke a minute ago? Did you misdial again?”
Elderly Woman: “Well, I thought I did it right.” starts dialing the number with me still on the line “There’s zero…” presses zero for about five seconds “And eight…” presses eight for a few seconds “And—”
Me: “Madam? I’m sorry, I’m still on the line so it won’t work; plus, when you do redial, you only need to tap the numbers, not hold them down for so long.”
Elderly Woman: “Ah, I see. Okay. I just tap the numbers and it’ll work.”
Me: “Yes, it should do. Good luck!”
(We say our goodbyes, hang up, and then twenty seconds later, the phone rings.)
Me: “Thank you for calling [Business]. How can I help?”
Elderly Woman: “Oh, hello again, dear. I seem to be struggling here, don’t I? I’m so sorry to trouble you again. I’ll just go and—”
Me: “Hello again. No, don’t worr