Annoying people when giving you Reg No over the phone!

[Giantvanman]

'Good example! Pronounced phone or fon? If I tell you it's phone at the outset, and you continue with fon, the phonetic alphabet means jack!' Would that be a 'phone jack?

Papa Hotel Oscar November Echo. If the blighter at the other end cannot comprehend that, ask to speak to his/her Sierra Uniform Papa Echo Romeo India Oscar Romeo, but perhaps replace "India" with "Idiot".....

Keeping the lighthearted vein going, a goodly number of phone people can't get their head around the phonetic alphabet completely, I find. For example, many times J (pro-Jay) for Juliet is responded to with, was that a G? No, that would be G- Guliet (pro Gull-i-et)…….

I routinely change the standard phonetic (for change, read dumb down) to names or everyday objects so J becomes Johnny or Jumper, for example and that doesn't always work either so have to resort to, the letter between I and K in the alphabet, in this example. The other one that befuddles often is when I use zero rather than 'O' (oh).

It must be difficult to a certain extent with all the accents now part of the culture but I find it difficult to empathise with their 'difficulties' when I verbally describe the letter to them and they still get it wrong.

 

[meeeb]

Had an old sergeant who insisted on using "Q - cucumber", "W - Wrexham".

Maybe something like that would work with intellectually challenged call centre workers.

 

[BAZ-500SL]

I was working in a car parts shop and we had a guy come in he gave us his reg and in his reg was the letter X which he referred to as Christmas so there we were typing his reg in to the system with a C , when trying a few attempts and it not working, he gave us a paper with his reg number on it and we saw it was a X not a C when telling him that Christmas began with a C he turned around and said that what I meant "XMAS" lol

 

[Howard]

Did you tell him a word that began with 'C' after all that ?

 

[Mat B]

Well as it say above, I'm really getting annoyed with people who try and correct me on the phone over my own reg number.

So I ring insurance to swap over for the new car, the lady says "what's the registration?" - so I say it's "689 ....." To which the lady replies "can you start with the prefix as I think your missing a bit" erm no it's "689 ...."

Oh it's a private plate?? No S##t Sherlock

If she let me finish she would have known this! Oh well rant over,

I feel your pain. I get this when I go to fill up with petrol somewhere different.
I give my fuel card they ask for registration. Then question me in the most patronising manor that ive missed the prefix off.

And don't get me started on surnames. Ive bee used to mine been spelt all kinds of ways of the years. I tend to do most thing using the phonetic alphabet these days.
Save a lot of time and hassle.

 

[renault12ts]

Did you tell him a word that began with 'C' after all that ?

Count?

 

[BAZ-500SL]

Lol we sure did tell him but I think he was to much in to his Xmas spirit

 

[John]

Had an old sergeant who insisted on using a cucumber

Beyond the call of duty, surely...

 

[kianok]

Don't sweat the small stuff.....

 

[lisa110rry]

I've found this thread very amusing (and I have the same problem with a 'NNN LLL' personal number). The quick ones get it if they know my surname.

But of course that's another minefield. For years while working for a supplier to Boots Plc, I was recorded as Mrs Horny on their system, just one letter wrong but how much wronger can one get?

I did find in Singapore my name was unfailingly spelled and pronounced perfectly without any help from me.

Around Christmas, I am commonly called Mrs. Holly.