credit card callers
Somebody complained about credit card companies calling random people in the company asking them for what they want.
This reminds me of some similar conversations with these people in the good old days when I was in 30C. I used to start with such interrogation myself until I got bored of it and then started with a variation.
In fact then on I used to put on the speaker phone and everybody from the neighbouring cubicles would join in for a couple of minutes of entertainment. [At times when another cubicle would get their call, someone would keep them on hold so that I could come and answer the phone!]
———-
Me: Hey… well I was *actually* thinking of buying a credit card, its a good thing you called…
Agent: (oh goody goody) may I have your name sir??
Me: …but before that let me ask you one thing [and dropping to a low tone] I’m actually into some chit fund/insurance business myself, would you be interested in buying something from me…
Agent: um… er….
Me [very seriously]: its not really expensive… works out very economical really – cmon please buy just one and you’ll surely refer it to all your colleagues…
———-
Sorry cant remember the rest of the conversation but you get the idea… and it used to be unique each time (thats why I dont remember any of it – and this was well over a year ago). But it would give everybody around a stomachache laughing most of the time – and this kind of thing gets better withpractice.
Btw I would be careful not to say anything offensive or disrespectful to the agent herself (typically a her), and during the few times this has happened now they’ve always kept the phone laughing themselves (though I suppose thoroughly confused) as well. After all, though arguably unethical, this is the means these people are are trying to earn their livelihood.
Me: Credit card??? Dosen’t that mean borrowing money?
She: yes sir…
Me: borrowing money is a bad thing. I want to live on my own money and not borrowing anything.
She: but think of the advantages sir….
Me: there is a proverb “haasike iddhashtu kaalu chaachu” (stretch your legs as much as your cot) – why unnecessarily live beyond one’s means, get into debt traps… do you know how many people have got stuck in this kind of thing for generations together?
[luckily I can’t remember details of the heavily philsophical debate that followed, but there’s a good chance that she might have atleast considered changing her vocation]
Me: Sure, I’m busy at the moment, please give me your name and phone number, I’ll call you back.
She: ok, when sir?
Me: Umm… let me check my calendar…. how about 18th February 2015?
She: that means you dont want, know sir?
Me: hmm… looks like we’ve spoken earlier…