To speak to an operator, press “G”

Posted on January 5, 2005 by Gene

I have a toll-free 800 number, which enables some of my relatives to call me without paying long distance. At least, that was the original goal. In practice, it serves as an annoyance, ringing off the hook with wrong numbers.
It used to be that I would get at least one call per day from someone wanting phone repairs — evidently, operators at he Commonwealth Telephone Company were giving out my number as the repair department. A call to a Commonwealth vice president made the calls slow down, but they’re still coming.
I’ve gotten calls for several other companies as well, from all areas of business. But today, I was rather put off by a seemingly doddering old man who was really obnoxious.
He seemed very put out that I was not NetZero Internet, and no matter how many times I told him he had a wrong number, he seemed to think it was me who was wrong. Yes, I understood that the operator had given him this number, but sir, the operator was mistaken. No, I am not trying to mislead you; no, I am not lying. No sir, I do not know anything about your NetZero account. No, I don’t know who you should speak to.
In fact, if I had any brains at all, I’d have instead said something like, “Yes sir, I’d be pleased to help you. May I have your credit card number please?”