<ring>

The house phone is ringing. Since TMBWitW and I have cell phones, we don’t normally answer the house phone.

<ring>

I’m sitting right next to it, I’m the only one home, so I figure I’ll answer it.

“Good morning, Cartter’s” – dead silence. Oh great, I’m on an autodialer and the lag between the answer and the person is –

“Yes, is this the Cartter residence?” (If you had been polite enough to have been listeneing while the phone was ringing, and you had heard me answer the phone…)

“Yes, it is.”

“Is Scarlet or Cary available?”

“This is Cary.”

“Mr. Cartter, this is (name of insurance company) calling to update our records. This phone call may be recorded for quality assurance purposes (second voice: OK, now just go right into it) Is your home phone number XXX-XXX-XXXX?” (Great. A trainee. I’ll bet they teach her all sorts of illogical questions.)

OK, now I understand that the autodialer dials the phone and hands it over when someone answers. But, really, since you are reading your script from the database that the autodialer used to dial my number, why is it necessary to ask if this is still my home phone number?

“Yes, it is.”

“Mr. Cartter, did you recieve a letter asking for an update of information for your policy with (name of insurance company)?”

“Yes, and my wife returned it with the updated information either yesterday or the day before.”

“OK, thank you for your time. (second voice: give him the contact information in case he has any quesitons) Mr. Cartter, in case you have any questions about this phone call, please call 1-800-XXX-XXXX and refer to contact number XXXXXXXXXXXX.” <click>

Me, staring at reciever: “Well, I’m glad I don’t have any questions, since I didn’t record that conversation and I didn’t have anything to write with.”