MAMEWorld Forums - The Loony Bin - Re: # reverse lookup

> My local phone company is working a way to match the text that comes up in the caller
> ID. Of course, it will be a bitch to come up with all of those conditions.
>
> The funniest one I had was the caller ID was showing up as the general manager of my
> company. The guy starting talking, and I asked "What is your company name?" He kept
> going on about his script. Finally I broke him from the script and he asked why I
> wanted to know. I said that my State's Attorney would like to know. He hung up, and
> that particular name/number never called again.

Telemarketers are inhuman scum and deserve no respect. I generally rid myself of them swiftly/mercilessly and make them acknowledge that I've told them to remove my numbers and to never call again.

Sometimes I like to have a little fun with them though. My favorite game to play with them is a game of "Telephone", wherein I transfer them around to different [fictional] extensions and departments, in search of the ever-elusive "Person Who Is In Charge of Purchasing".

It usually goes something like this:

Me: Hello, [company name], how can I help you?
Marketer: I'd like to speak with the person responsible for purchasing or business decisions.
Me: Sure thing! Please hold! [Put line on hold a couple minutes]
Me(performing my best southern accent): Shop. Bob.
Marketer: Uh, I was holding for the person in charge of purchasing or making business decisions?
Me: Uh, ok... [shout random gibberish into distance over shoulder] uh, hang on [put marketer on hold for a while, another 2-3 minutes or so]
Me(speaking softly and sweetly): Personnel. May I help you?
Marketer (becoming exasperated, speaking pointedly): I was holding for the person who makes business and purchasing decisions for your company.
Me: OH! I'm sorry, let me transfer you..
Marketer: Wai-

It goes on in that vein until either the marketer gives up angrily and goes away, or until you bust up laughing because your different accents start to co-mingle. It's a great way to break up the monotony at the office.