I booked train tickets worth about eight thousand rupees a few months ago. It seems that someone makes a living by keeping track of internet bookings because I received a phone call referring to these bookings and offering me the IRCTC card. He explained the benefits such as discounts on ticket fare, points on tickets booked and waiver of platform ticket. I said I'd think about it and promptly forgot about it once I put the receiver down. But there was a call almost everyday asking me if their representative could come and meet me. I kept dodging him for a while till I finally lost the will to fight them and agreed to see their representatives. Remember that until this point the guy on phone was convincing, cajoling and even pleading with me. 'Madam, tell me ANY time that is convenient for you' he'd say. Once I agreed to see their representative I received another call and this time it was a female voice at the other end. She said she was calling to verify some facts with regard to my application for the IRCTC card.
'Application?' I thought but let it pass and confirmed the details. And then she had the nerve to tell me 'Ma'm please make sure you are at home at 3.00 p.m because our rep is coming from far.' 'Really! Please ask him not to bother' should have been my response but I didn't. HUGE mistake! At about 1:30 when I am in the middle of my meal I get a call and a guy tells me that he is from SBI cards and that he is outside my gate.
I let him in and fill the form and give him the address proofs that are needed and then he points out that the space for mobile number is left blank. I explain that it means that I do not have one. He gives me the kind of look reserved for low lifes who don't have a mobile phone number but gives me a reference number and leaves.
A day later I get another call. Again the female voice from SBI cards announcing that my card is being processed and she needs some extra information. What now?
She wants my mobile number! I begin to wonder if this is some kind of prank being played on me, some elaborate plot to unearth my mobile number? Normally I hate to be rude but this one was begging for it and so I finally tell her that I do not want to share my number with her. And guess what I heard next? you are not going to believe this but she actually said: "ma'm, I am sorry, if you do not give us the number your application may be rejected." So I finally tell her clearly and slowly 'I hate to break this to you sweetheart but you know what, I never wanted it in the first place.' And the line was abruptly disconnected.I hoped that they would place me on a blacklist - someone no telemarketer should and would ever call. It would be tough but I knew I'd eventually get over it. Hehehe.
And it felt so good to tell them to take their card and go for a walk. At least I thought that is what I had done. Until... this came in today's post:
Those italics are mine - are these people real? I am appalled at the time and resources that they waste to 'create' applications and the 'reject' them. And do they get paid for doing this kind of work, seriously?
But really what I am angry about is these people acting all smug and 'rejecting' ME. Nobody rejects ME. I.reject.them. And I want to place it on record. So I think I will go online and apply for a card and reject THEM.
'Application?' I thought but let it pass and confirmed the details. And then she had the nerve to tell me 'Ma'm please make sure you are at home at 3.00 p.m because our rep is coming from far.' 'Really! Please ask him not to bother' should have been my response but I didn't. HUGE mistake! At about 1:30 when I am in the middle of my meal I get a call and a guy tells me that he is from SBI cards and that he is outside my gate.
I let him in and fill the form and give him the address proofs that are needed and then he points out that the space for mobile number is left blank. I explain that it means that I do not have one. He gives me the kind of look reserved for low lifes who don't have a mobile phone number but gives me a reference number and leaves.
A day later I get another call. Again the female voice from SBI cards announcing that my card is being processed and she needs some extra information. What now?
She wants my mobile number! I begin to wonder if this is some kind of prank being played on me, some elaborate plot to unearth my mobile number? Normally I hate to be rude but this one was begging for it and so I finally tell her that I do not want to share my number with her. And guess what I heard next? you are not going to believe this but she actually said: "ma'm, I am sorry, if you do not give us the number your application may be rejected." So I finally tell her clearly and slowly 'I hate to break this to you sweetheart but you know what, I never wanted it in the first place.' And the line was abruptly disconnected.I hoped that they would place me on a blacklist - someone no telemarketer should and would ever call. It would be tough but I knew I'd eventually get over it. Hehehe.
And it felt so good to tell them to take their card and go for a walk. At least I thought that is what I had done. Until... this came in today's post:
Dear Usha
Thank you for applying for the IRCTC CARD.
We regret that we are unable to accept your request for the SBI card at this point of time.
We would like to assure you that the business decision of not accepting your proposal for the IRCTC CARD has been made in good faith and is in no way indicative of your credit standing.
Your sincerely,
Those italics are mine - are these people real? I am appalled at the time and resources that they waste to 'create' applications and the 'reject' them. And do they get paid for doing this kind of work, seriously?
But really what I am angry about is these people acting all smug and 'rejecting' ME. Nobody rejects ME. I.reject.them. And I want to place it on record. So I think I will go online and apply for a card and reject THEM.
yup, way to go!!
Recently wrote a post on similar behaviour - in my case I did need their verification, and the attitude was the same. I don't think it has anything to do with the company, it the same everywhere. It's absolutely outrageous.
well done.They first barge into our home uninvited and have the temerity to 'reject' our 'application'.I'd like to know what they're upto.Showing their boss that they are actually working?
What a bunch of witches! Attitude pe attitude! Temerity to dekho! Your attitudes must be re-engineered towards better 'serving' a 'free' capital market system. ;)
On a serious note, I'm not sure if you are aware that there is a 'Do Not Call Registry' in India (see TRAI's Telecom Unsolicited Commercial Communications Regulations, 2007). Upon registration of your landline and/ or mobile (visit http://ndncregistry.gov.in/ndncregistry/index.jsp), telemarketers are prohibited from making unsolicited commercial calls to such number(s).
Usha, I started reading your blog recently and quite like the way you write. And the title "Ageless Bonding" is apt. Be back soon!
Haha I was reading this at work and almost fell off the chair laughing when I saw their email! The nerve of these guys?? Obviously the rude lady you talked to must have done this to get back at you in some weird way that only she understands. BTW, why id cell phone number so important? I would hate to part with mine.
LOL! Yes, do that!
Hmph to them too!
:-) Hope you have a good weekend Usha.
The same thing happened to me, but from HDFC Bank. They were after me offering me a credit card. I told them that I am not employed and am a full-time parent and homemaker. 'No problem ma'am we are giving cards to homemakers!' Oh really??!
Finally after many calls I relented one day. After a similar drama as in your case, I received an identical letter which made me livid. I tell you!! the nerve, running behind you with offers of card and then 'rejecting' you!! How dare they!! Sigh, those days I had not yet started blogging. Or else it would have been splashed across my pages, 'I reject you'!! :-))))
Hmm this is a strange ploy that has been long in vogue . Citibank I believe does it veryregularly - first market the card , then regret the issue . Strange lack of co ordination . Put it down as harrassment,unwarranted at that .
I hear ya! LOL :)
Look at the brighter side. You got to write a blog post on this :) Citibank and ICICI Card Reps used to throng at the ATMs and keep pestering us for applying for a card each time. In a way I pity those folks, waiting there all day and getting nothing but cold stares from ATM withdrawers. I usually tell them politely a No or a Sorry not interested, just to be courteous to a fellow human being who is just doing his job.
Also, it might be some sort of trick that they play for auditing. In order to show they are quality company they have to have a some sort of reject %. So they try to get application from uninterested people and then make up a reason to reject it.
Usha-
Way to gof or you. In India, these days every person has a mobile. I guess if you don't they look at you weirdly. The last time we visited, we forgot to borrow someone's mobile and everywhere we went, we were treated like a bunch of nothings for not having a mobile phone.
great spirit!
I hear ya about the mobile #. We were traveling in India last year and when we said, we don't have a mobile, we got a "are you for real" look - LOL!
When life gives you "rejected credit card application", make a post out of it :)
:P Who asked you to get all kind and mushy and invite trouble? tell tell?
What say we go to the media and tell them you are suffering mental trauma because of the rejection?
I was similarly endlessly plagued by guys from banks itching to give me a personal loan. Ended up repeating the same answers to the very similar phonecalls from every other bank.
Then one day, I was at the end of my patience and told them that i didnt want a loan, but surprise surprise, I was willing to give THEM a loan, and did they want it ?
They hadnt been taught how to deal with that in the call centre. So i presume they just put a thick red line against my number.
The calls stopped.
Telemarketing is proving to be a nuisance of the highest order. In your case, it is really hilarious and at the same time exasperating. I liked the way you said you reject them.
Do that, Usha! I have been there too :( Got rejected by HDFC Credit Card dept. The nerve they have! Since then I have been taking out my frustration on all of the reps! Sigh!
One thing I dont understand is that when they had "called" you, obviously they have your no (even if its a landline). Still they reject, just cos you dont share your mobile no???? What the #$^%#%!!!!
Morons of the first order! There, there Usha! We are here for you!Btw, love these two videos of Seinfeld. How to get rid of a telemarketer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45eHfCQIf6w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hllDWSbuDsQ&feature=related
Lol!!! This is funny!! Go get them girl! :)
Btw first time on ur blog.. nice one u got here.. adding ya to my reader!
Hi
Guess, you are talking about the SBI Railway Credit Card.When they found you are a High Train-worth Individual,they would have passed on your details to SBI Cards.And from there to their back office,to their DSAs.So who is to be blamed?
IRCTC who shared your details with SBI Cards? Or SBI who pestered you to sign up?
SBI...like any other Indian or foreign bank begs,pleads,threatens,pesters to take cards.
Best option.Sign up for Do Not Call Registry.It is just an sms away.Trust me it works.Even if someone calls you after that, tell that you have signed up for DNC list and not sure how you are getting a call from them.There ends.
For customers who would like to register/de-register their request for NDNC registry may dial 1909 or SMS to 1909 with keywords 'START DND' for registration and 'STOP DND' for de-registration
Check this link http://ndncregistry.gov.in
-Nikhil
here, here...usha i am with you all the way...i just had a run in, with a sales rep from a local cell phone provider, i happily kicked his ass out of my office, and called his company to tell them to shove their product where the sun doesn't shine...sorry for the use of graphic expletives here...but it is how i suspect you felt, so yes please reject them, with i hope more finesse and style, than my rejection of desperate phone sales people
ROFLMAO!
I find this so hilarious because I have a home phone and have to deal with these sorts of calls all the time. Just like you, I do not have a cell phone, nor do I have an ipod, and in the university world to not have a cell phone degrades you to a gypsy-like status.
oh- and a shameless plug. You should come read my latest entry, I would love your perspective :) (entitled gender profiling). Yes, I know it sounds scary. But go and read the entry. It's not as bad as you think -_^
p.s. I'm in the writing mood so I just made an entry on cell phones. :D
irritating bunch!
Grrrrrrrr!
we still laugh at an incident that happened with M. American Express card called saying you have won a contest and we want to offer you a card! he asked what is his sal! M tol him whatever. he said sorry sir, ONLY for 18lacs and above income! WTF! :p
i have done this credit card selling job! not telemarketing, on the field and know that most of my colleagues didnt bother UNDERSTANDING the product at all. their only concern was to get the signature and scoot.
and SBI is quite the worst!
cheers!
abha
just laugh it off usha style
Hi Usha,
Is it not appalling that a mobile number has become the most important identity of a person, even to receive a Credit Card.
Ironically it is also the most misused identity if at all it is one.
When I get phone calls for applying credit cards, I PURPOSELY speak to them in Kannada. As I speak in local tongue, the person at the other end drops the receiver thinking I'm illiterate and I've been doing this all time :D
Tagged! Please to do... http://www.unmana.com/2008/10/more-memories.html
same story everywhere, even I am getting plagued daily by someone or the other, once in Big bazar the guy insisted so much, even filled the forms and then wanted my landline, since that time I didnt have one, he told me the ways to manage it and then I never I got a response, but now i have beome really vary wih them as everyday the frauds are coming to light and here i was providing him with all the details of mine with the proofs, which were not used:(
Haaaaah!!! We really SHOULD get together for a chat. I'm simply PISSED with SBIcards too.
Usha:
This is fascinating. Anyone, who tells me about how good Indian customer service is, shall now be sent a link to this blog post.
I have moved so much in the last few years that I now keep my phone off directory and I never give anyone my mobile number. There are other ways do to credit checks on me, and they are called credit rating agencies.
Imagine my surprise when I got calls from the same number several times in the last fews days, asking for Mr Brendan. I was patient once or twice. Now I see the number, I pick the phone and give them a few choice 'gaalis' and put the phone down. Since they are not supposed to call me - my number is off-directory and I am on all possible do-not-call lists - they are on the illegal side so they can never report me for abuse. They have stopped in the last week. Do the same next time ;-) It works.
I think the Marketing guys give the cold call and collect some details about a prospective 'user' and pass it on to the service provider and in the process also collect their fees. For the service provideer, it was a request for their services and you were at their mercy. The problem with too much of technology is that 'thinking' has yielded place to 'routine' though Ironically we call them as knowledge workers.
I, too, don't understand this cell phone number request. Especially in a country where debtors have taken loans and stopped paying the EMIs in a couple of months after throwing away the SIM card and changing the phone number....
In India, we find ways to subvert anything!
Happy Deepavali, Usha! And a special wish for the thalai deepavali couple!! :)
Happy Deepavali Usha
Happy Diwali, Usha!
Hi all: It seems that we have all been there at the receiving end of this some time or other. Like a friend says you need to develop a good sense of humour and R.K.Laxman's common man ish way of looking at the everyday happenings around us in India.
Welcome to all the new comers. I will visit you soon.
Fascinating post!
Talking of rejection letters, here's a very amusing one i found recently.
Usha Aunty, (If I may) I came here from Laksh's blog. I started reading one post and couldn't stop with that. Love your style of writing.
Even my mother doesn't have a cell phone and she says that everybody gives her that look. Recently one of the credit card companies had sent a card for my father, who died 24 years back. Where do they get the information and how do they work is all a mystery!