So Lily and I are at my mother-in-law’s house with the kids. It’s hot and the kids are watching cartoons. I’m hanging out with Lily’s nephew talking about the BlackBerry Pearl when I hear yelling from downstairs.
Lily is on the phone getting upset with someone named “Jessica”. Jessica called and is insisting on speaking with Ma. Lily is trying to explain to this person that Ma does not speak English at all. Jessica wont even tell Lily why she is calling and what is this about and keeps insisting on talking with Ma.
Even when Lily started speaking to her in Chinese Jessica still does not get it.
Lily has had it and I get a turn. So I get on the phone and try to explain that
- Ma does not speak English, and
- until we know what this is about we’re not going to be discussing anything.
After a couple of minutes I just say that I need to speak with her manager. She of course says that she can’t transfer me until I give MY name. So I give her my name and wait.
After being put on hold for a few minutes I hung up and called the 800 number that Jessica gave Lily. Bingo! I got Jessica again. I told her right off I need to speak with her manager, and right on cue she wants my name.
By now it’s obvious that it was a collection agency. I am sure that the delay was that she was trying to look up my name. I am also sure that she could not spell it and that’s what the delay was. I repeated my name and waited on hold. A couple of minute later I hung up and called back again and this time I asked “why does MY name matter?” So I told her that my name is John Doe and she should get her manager NOW.
She snorted and hung up on me.
Now this person is not the brightest in the world. I called that number a few times already and each time she picked up. Now I’m a little pissed off and she’s apparently the only one operating the phone bank. She knows I am going to keep calling until I get someone pretending to be her boss.
Next call she just puts me through to a person claiming to be her manager named Ryan. I tell him that Ma does not speak English and that they are to stop calling her number immediately. I also tell him that Jessica is unprofessional and as hard headed as a door nail.
Yes, I really do say things like that.
Ryan plays the high road card and says “I’m not going to be unprofessional like you and resort to name calling”. I point out that she hung up on me and I think they owe me a couple. He actually says sorry and wants to know if I know some person’s name. And if I do can I get in contact with that person.
I explain that I am not a public assistance service. This silliness goes on for another minute and I just cut in and say
Me: “Ryan can you confirm that this number will not be called again?”
Ryan: “Yes and we will not call again, but it would be helpful if-”
Me: “Thank you and you have a nice memorial day weekend.”
And hung up on him.
Any collection agency (they were not calling for ME) has a dirty job. But when they start to cold call people who may come into contact or live in proximity with the guy they want then they are doing something wrong. They are then harassing, obtuse, and sometimes out right liars.
My mother-in-law is not in good health and speaks no English at all. For them to harass her (her number is on the national do-not-call list; it’s harassment) is just unforgivable.
Lily and I saved the name of the company, the names of the people we spoke with, the 800 number, and the time and date that they called. We looked up their company on the Internet and will report them to BBB if they harass my mother-in-law again.
