>> >I was at home the other night in the middle of my dinner when the phone
> >rang.
> >
> >ME: Hello.
> >
> >
> >
> >AT&T: Hello, this is AT&T ...
> >
> >
> >
> >ME: Is this AT&T.?
> >
> >
> >
> >AT&T: Yes, this is AT&T ....
> >
> >
> >
> >ME: This is AT&T.?
> >
> >
> >
> >AT&T: Yes, this is AT&T ....
> >
> >
> >
> >ME: Is this AT&T.?
> >
> >
> >
> >AT&T: Yes! This is AT&T, may I speak to Mr.Byron,
> >
> >please.?
> >
> >
> >
> >ME: May I ask who is calling.?
> >
> >
> >
> >AT&T: This is AT&T.
> >
> >
> >
> >ME: Ok, hold on.
> >
> >
> >
> >At this point I put the phone down for a solid 5 >
> >
> >minutes thinking that, surely, this person would have
> >
> >hung up the phone. I ate my salad. Much to my
> >
> >surprise, when I picked up the receiver, they were
> >
> >still waiting.
> >
> >
> >
> >ME: Hello.?
> >
> >
> >
> >AT&T: Is this Mr. Byron.?
> >
> >
> >
> >ME: May I ask who is calling, please.?
> >
> >
> >
> >AT&T: Yes, this is AT&T ...
> >
> >
> >
> >ME: This is AT&T.?
> >
> >
> >
> >AT&T: Yes, this is AT&T ...
> >
> >
> >
> >ME: The phone company.?
> >
> >
> >
> >AT&T: Yes, sir.
> >
> >
> >
> >ME: I thought you said this was AT&T.
> >
> >
> >
> >AT&T: Yes, sir, we are a phone company.
> >
> >
> >
> >ME: I already have a phone.
> >
> >
> >
> >AT&T: We aren't selling phones today, Mr. Byron. We
> >
> >would like to offer you 10 cents a minute, 24 hours a
> >
> >day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
> >
> >
> >
> >ME: Now, that's 10 cents a minute, 24 hours a day?
> >
> >
> >
> >AT&T: (getting a little excited at this point by my
> >
> >interest) Yes, sir, that's right! 24 hours a day!
> >
> >
> >
> >ME: 7 days a week.?
> >
> >
> >
> >AT&T: That's right.
> >
> >
> >
> >ME: 365 days a year.?
> >
> >
> >
> >AT&T: Yes, sir.
> >
> >
> >
> >ME: I am definitely interested in that! Wow!!! That's
> >
> >amazing!
> >
> >
> >
> >AT&T: We think so!
> >
> >
> >
> >ME: That's quite a sum of money!
> >
> >
> >
> >AT&T: Yes, sir, it's amazing how it adds up.
> >
> >
> >
> >ME: Ok, so will you send me checks weekly, monthly or
> >
> >just one big one at the end of the year for the full
> >
> >$52,560; and if you send an annual check, can I get a
> >
> >cash advance.?
> >
> >
> >
> >AT&T: Excuse me.?
> >
> >
> >
> >ME: You know, the 10 cents a minute.
> >
> >
> >
> >AT&T: What are you talking about.?
> >
> >
> >
> >ME: You said you'd give me 10 cents a minute, 24 hours
> >
> >a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. That comes to
> >
> >$144 per day, $1008 per week and $52,560 per year.
> >
> >I'm just interested in knowing how you will be making
> >
> >payment.
> >
> >
> >
> >AT&T: Oh, no, sir. I didn't mean we'd be paying you.
> >
> >You pay us 10 cents a minute.
> >
> >
> >
> >ME: Wait a minute, how do you figure that by saying
> >
> >that you'll give me 10 cents a minute, that I'll give
> >
> >YOU 10 cents a minute? Is this some kind of subliminal
> >
> >telemarketing scheme.? I've read about things like
> >
> >this in the Enquirer, you know.
> >
> >
> >
> >AT&T: No, sir, we are offering 10 cents a minute for ....
> >
> >
> >
> >ME: THERE YOU GO AGAIN! Can I speak to a supervisor
> >
> >please.?
> >
> >
> >
> >AT&T: Sir, I don't think that is necessary.
> >
> >
> >
> >ME: I insist on speaking to a supervisor.!
> >
> >
> >
> >AT&T: Yes, Mr. Byron. Please hold.
> >
> >
> >
> >At this point, I begin trying to finish my dinner.
> >
> >
> >
> >SUPERVISOR: Mr. Byron.?
> >
> >
> >
> >ME: Yeth.?
> >
> >
> >
> >SUPERVISOR: I understand you are not quite
> >
> >understanding our 10 cents a minute program.
> >
> >
> >
> >ME: Is This A T & T.?
> >
> >
> >
> >SUPERVISOR: Yes, sir, it sure is.
> >
> >
> >
> >ME: (I had to swallow before I choked on my food. It
> >
> >was all I could do to suppress my laughter and I had
> >
> >to be careful not to produce a snort.) No, actually, I
> >
> >was just waiting for someone to get back to me so that
> >
> >I could sign up for the plan.
> >
> >
> >
> >SUPERVISOR: Ok, no problem, I'll transfer you back to
> >
> >the person who was helping you.
> >
> >
> >
> >ME: Thank you.
> >
> >
> >
> >I was on hold once again and managed a few more
> >
> >mouthfuls. I need to end this conversation. Suddenly,
> >
> >there was an aggravated but polite voice at the other
> >
> >end of the phone.
> >
> >
> >
> >AT&T: Hello, Mr. Byron, I understand that you are
> >
> >interested in signing up for our plan.?
> >
> >
> >
> >ME: No, but I was wondering - do you have that
> >
> >"Friends and Family" thing because I'm an only child
> >and I'd really like to have a little brother...
> >
> >
> >AT&T: click........