I am of the generation that still uses their land-line phone. I am ambivalent about my mobile phone although it's an understood necessity in this day and age. I accept that I should have one, but I'm not interested in what model, and to be honest I'm not entirely sure what an 'app' is, does, or why I would want one....
I get along quite nicely with my old-style mobile handset. I switch it on when I need to, and am surprised when it rings or a text message arrives. Actually, if I hear it it's doing well. I usually keep it in the pocket of my handbag, which muffles the sound, and as I have partial hearing in my right ear it's entirely a fluke if I answer the call.
Just recently I've had a series of missed calls on my mobile from a number I didn't recognise, and when I called the number back it was line busy tone... I assumed it was a random number generation thingy trying to get me to claim back my entitlement on mis-sold insurance from way back when.
It wasn't. As it turned out, when I eventually answered the phone, and recognised the unknown number, a girl's voice asked me if she was speaking to Kat. This question usually elicits two responses from me:
1. If you have to ask me who I am, then you don't have the right to call me by my first name - please use my title 'Mrs';
2. Who wants to know?
'Who's calling?' I asked. 'I'm calling from Vodaphone' she said, 'with some special offers for you.'. I said that I was at work, and she jumped in with a bright 'It'll only take a few minutes'. No it won't, I thought to myself. 'I'm at work, you can call me back later, goodbye' I replied.
The next day my mobile rang just as I was leaving the library for lunch. The young man this time was more circumspect than his colleague the previous day, asking if now was a good time to speak... (I did wonder if they'd marked my account notes with something to indicate to treat me carefully/cautiously...). I decided to cut him a break, and said yes, now was fine.
He launched into a gushing thank you for being a loyal Vodaphone customer, and asked if I was happy with the service I received. I said yes. He said to reward me for my loyalty they had some special offers they'd like to discuss with me. I said to go ahead.
Firstly, he said, he'd need to know what phone I was using... I took the phone away from my ear, peered at it (didn't have my reading glasses on) and advised him it was a Nokia.
Him: It is a smart phone?
Me: No it's quite old.
Him: Does it have a touch screen?
Me: No.
Him: Is it a contract or pay as you go?
Me: Pay as you go.
Him: Do you make more calls or send more texts?
Me: Well, I usually text my daughter if she's forgotten something for school, and I don't like talking on the phone too much in case the x-rays cook my brain, so I don't really know. Text probably.
Him: Would you say you were a high or low user?
Me: Low.
Him: How much do you spend a month?
Me: I've no idea. You tell me.
Him: OK, I'll just look at your account. Right, you last topped up with £10 four weeks ago, and you've still got £7.53 credit. So you're a low user.
Me: Looks like it.
Him: Well, I don't really think there's anything more we can do for you at the moment.
Me: Nope.
Him: Thank you very much, have a good day.
Me: Thank you, I will.
I enjoyed our little chat, but mostly I don't think there's anything that anyone can do for me... in terms of special offers. And I didn't lay it on as thick as I could have. When he asked me if it was a 'smart phone' I was desperate to say 'No, it's quite scratched actually', but I held it together. Ah me, the fun you can have. :)
And on that note I'll ring off.
TTFN. Kat
I get along quite nicely with my old-style mobile handset. I switch it on when I need to, and am surprised when it rings or a text message arrives. Actually, if I hear it it's doing well. I usually keep it in the pocket of my handbag, which muffles the sound, and as I have partial hearing in my right ear it's entirely a fluke if I answer the call.
Just recently I've had a series of missed calls on my mobile from a number I didn't recognise, and when I called the number back it was line busy tone... I assumed it was a random number generation thingy trying to get me to claim back my entitlement on mis-sold insurance from way back when.
It wasn't. As it turned out, when I eventually answered the phone, and recognised the unknown number, a girl's voice asked me if she was speaking to Kat. This question usually elicits two responses from me:
1. If you have to ask me who I am, then you don't have the right to call me by my first name - please use my title 'Mrs';
2. Who wants to know?
'Who's calling?' I asked. 'I'm calling from Vodaphone' she said, 'with some special offers for you.'. I said that I was at work, and she jumped in with a bright 'It'll only take a few minutes'. No it won't, I thought to myself. 'I'm at work, you can call me back later, goodbye' I replied.
The next day my mobile rang just as I was leaving the library for lunch. The young man this time was more circumspect than his colleague the previous day, asking if now was a good time to speak... (I did wonder if they'd marked my account notes with something to indicate to treat me carefully/cautiously...). I decided to cut him a break, and said yes, now was fine.
He launched into a gushing thank you for being a loyal Vodaphone customer, and asked if I was happy with the service I received. I said yes. He said to reward me for my loyalty they had some special offers they'd like to discuss with me. I said to go ahead.
Firstly, he said, he'd need to know what phone I was using... I took the phone away from my ear, peered at it (didn't have my reading glasses on) and advised him it was a Nokia.
Him: It is a smart phone?
Me: No it's quite old.
Him: Does it have a touch screen?
Me: No.
Him: Is it a contract or pay as you go?
Me: Pay as you go.
Him: Do you make more calls or send more texts?
Me: Well, I usually text my daughter if she's forgotten something for school, and I don't like talking on the phone too much in case the x-rays cook my brain, so I don't really know. Text probably.
Him: Would you say you were a high or low user?
Me: Low.
Him: How much do you spend a month?
Me: I've no idea. You tell me.
Him: OK, I'll just look at your account. Right, you last topped up with £10 four weeks ago, and you've still got £7.53 credit. So you're a low user.
Me: Looks like it.
Him: Well, I don't really think there's anything more we can do for you at the moment.
Me: Nope.
Him: Thank you very much, have a good day.
Me: Thank you, I will.
I enjoyed our little chat, but mostly I don't think there's anything that anyone can do for me... in terms of special offers. And I didn't lay it on as thick as I could have. When he asked me if it was a 'smart phone' I was desperate to say 'No, it's quite scratched actually', but I held it together. Ah me, the fun you can have. :)
And on that note I'll ring off.
TTFN. Kat
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