Have you called upyour bank, or credit card company, or cellphone company, and almost died of irritation as they put your call on hold? There's also the left-handed taunt in their earnest assurances "Your call is important to us...please stay on the line....".
Of late I have devised a very satisfying way of getting back at them. I have been getting calls from all these folks wanting me to sign up for their services. You know what I do? I put their calls on hold!!
That's right! So when I put the caller on hold, they keep hearing Airtel's sweet message - "The Airtel you are calling has put your call on hold", which is like another left-handed taunt.
Just this morning, a non-life insurance company called me up.
Caller: Hello sir, I am Shilpa calling from XXXX. Would you like to hear about our various....
Me: Just hold on, Shilpa, I am interested in your services, but I have got a call. Please hold.
Then I proceed to put the call on hold. They almost always call back and I say "Yes yes, just a second, I have my boss on the other line, please hold."
Then I get back to eating chips, or watching TV, or writing blogposts. If you are a call-center executive who has been my victim, please share with me the frustration you go through.