May 25, 2016
I just got a call. Crackle, crackle, long pause, the click of connection, then a voice from far away. ‘Hello, this is Lisa from TalkTalk.’ I ask ‘Lisa’ what she would like. ‘It’s about your router.’ Uh huh. Then the old chestnut, ‘It’s sending out error messages.’
I politely wait for Lisa to finish before asking her why she is doing this. ‘You are making trouble for people. You are causing suffering.’ She is silent but I can hear her breathing. It’s constricted as if she might be an allergy sufferer.
‘Some of the people you call might be sick or not have much money. They might have children they need to feed.’ Miraculously, Lisa still hasn’t hung up. ‘Why don’t you get yourself another job, one that doesn’t cause misery to others.’
Still she is there saying nothing.
‘I know you are a scammer, Lisa. It’s not right.’
She’s still breathing on the other end of the line.
‘Lisa, get another job.’
I then wish her well and hang up. I doubt I have made a difference (Lisa must need money, too) but at least she hasn’t called back.