crank call

I had the umpteenth call today asking about my recent accident and it went something a little bit like this

Them - Hi Mr <Insert name here>, this is <Insert other name here> from <insert inaudible possibly made up company name here>
Me - Hi <Insert other name here>
T - Hi there, how are you doing Mr <Insert name here>
M- I'm doing good thanks and you?
T - Fine thanks Mr <Insert name here>
M - Good
T - Yes Mr <Insert name here>, I'm calling you today about your recent car accident I understand you were involved in an accident.

it should be noted here that I have had several of these calls in the last 18 months, why, I am not quite sure .... meanwhile back to the 'action'
 
M - Yes that's right
T - Oh yes your accident, can you tell me it was in the last two years?
M - Yes that's right, might I ask how you know are aware of my accident?
T - Erm, yes we were contacted by your insurance company
M - Ah I see, and can you tell me who my insurance company is?
T - One minute Mr <Insert name here>

at this point Them operative #1 has a quick chat with her colleague/manager and I am transfered

T2 - Hello, Mr <Insert name here>? My name is Mr <Insert any random name here>
M - Hi there
T2 - How are you today Mr <Insert name here>
M - Hmm, I'm ok (I decide to not detail the week long illness, but anyway)
T2 - Yes Mr <Insert name here>, so my colleague was telling me you have had an accident.
M - Yes
T2 - Can you confirm that it was within the last two years?
M - Well can you tell me how you learned about my accident?
T2 - Well Mr <Insert name here>, we see that you had an accident within the last two years.
M - Ah, where precisely are you seeing this information.
T2 - Your insurance company passed the details on to a third party
M - I see, very interesting, I have never had a car accident
T2 - But Mr <Insert name here>, you said that you had had an accident
M - I know
T2 - Why did you tell us that you had had an accident?
M - I was lying
T2 - Why were you saying that?
M - To see where this conversation would go,

I was actually tempted to return a very similar question back to the person I was speaking to, along the lines of 'why did you tell me that I had had an accident?' but kindly refrained.

T2 - So you have not had an accident?
M - Er no
T2 then passed me back to T operative #1.

T - Mr <Insert name here>
M - Hello again
T - silence then hangs up several seconds later

I've clearly been reading too much Paul Auster recently, but at the same time, in my opinion, I've not been reading enough Paul Auster recently.

Our MP, who I have to say has been an excellent MP, sent me a copy of a parliamentary committee report on scam callers and the govts attempts to stop this sort of hassling. Personally I don't mind getting these calls, but I truly resent the idea that elderly people or other more vulnerable people should get this sort of nonsense on a regular basis. Next time I think I'll record it.

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