Earlier this week I had had a long day at work. Then I got home and within the span of 45 minutes I got two phonecalls from telemarketers. So I fix my supper and just as I get it on the plate, nice and hot, the phone rings again. Mumbling to myself I walk over and the voice on the other end says, “Hello, can I speak to Baker please?” In that instant I think it’s ANOTHER telemarketer and snarl, “You’re interrupting my supper!” The voice on the other ends stutters and says they will call back later, and I hang up.
Then I get to thinking, that while I didn’t recognize the voice it probably was someone who had a GOOD reason to call, because they pronounced my surname correctly, something the telemarketers never do.
I think I have figured out who it may have been(a fellow church member no less, gulp)so now I have to decide whether or not to call this person to find out if indeed it was them, and how to grovel in apology if it was. I just need to figure out what to say. Advice would be appreciated if you have it.
Try the truth. Works for me.
“I’m sorry, I had just received a call from a [expletive deleted] telemarketer just when I was sitting down to eat my [diety reference deleted] supper, and then you called and I was just so [familial intercourse reference deleted] angry that I said what I said [diestic condemnation deleted]. Anyway, I’m [explicit sexual reference deleted] and I hope you can [incredibly unbelievably vile expletive deleted] forgive me, all right?”
. . . well, at least that’s what I’d say.
Seriously, don’t worry about it. They’ll be so shocked that you sought them out to apologize that – unless they’re incredibly idiotic, or you repeated my script exactly – they should forgive you.
Call them now. Like pech said. Act sheepish and chagrined. I’m sure they’ll understand - I’m sure they’ve had telemarketers ruin their dinner too!
Is there anyway you can check the phone numbers of those who call you? Here in the UK we can dial 1471 to get the number of the last person who called you - got anything similar?
Otherwise, I think you should just call the person and ask if they rang. If they did, give them a simple, true explanation. They’re human beings and they will have experienced the annoyance of telemarketers as much as you have. Smile, say you’re sincerely sorry and if they’re halfway decent they’ll get over it quick. IMHO, it’s better dealt with swiftly and simply, lest it drag out into unnecessary worry on your part.
Take care.
Fran
I think this mistake falls into the “oops, I done bad” category and not the “we pointed the missles where?” one.
First, find out if it truly was him or her on the other end. If not, no harm no foul.
After that, apologize, saying you’re sorry you were so rude. You had a bad day, you had a low blood sugar count, whatever. Mention of the telemarketer theory is optional. But this isn’t a grovelling offense by any means. You didn’t say that that person’s mom looked like the goodyear blimp on steroids. You told the wrong person (somewhat curtly) that now wasn’t the right time to be calling. Embarrasing, but clearly of the forgive and forget category.
Its not a big deal. I work nights, so the phone wakes me up all the time. I’m always getting an attitude, and then finding out its my wife or mom.
Who ever it was will probably get a laugh out of the whole thing if you just explain it to them.
I just have my answering machine on 24-7.
When the phone rings, 999 times out of 1000 there’s no message.