my life as a defence analyst.

[baratron]

Of course, what didn't help yesterday afternoon was the bloody BBC ringing me up. I get these calls on a regular basis. The BBC ring our number and ask to speak to Colonel Bob Stewart. Now, unless Richard has a secret life I don't know about, no one of that name lives here. Furthermore, no one of that name has ever lived here - we've owned this flat since it was built, and had this phone number all of that time.

So every time something of a military nature occurs in the news, a BBC researcher gets on the phone to their usual rent-a-quote sources, and rings me. And every time I get one of these calls, I explain to them that there is no Colonel Bob Stewart here and there never has been, suggest that perhaps someone transposed a couple of digits when they entered the number into the computer, and ask them to remove our number from their database. Whoever I speak to is always terribly apologetic and promises to do so, but then they only go and bloody ring us up again a couple of weeks later. Almost always when I'm asleep. It's annoying, because although a lot of people have our home number, no one would ever dream of trying to reach us on it - they'd ring our mobiles instead. They'd only ring the home phone if our mobiles were switched off. So whenever the home phone rings, I always assume it must be a terribly important call and answer it.

This morning, as Richard got into work, the people in reception were watching Sky News. And who was being interviewed? None other than Colonel Bob Stewart himself.

So next time the sodding Beeb ring me wanting him, I'll tell them to call their friends at Sky to get the right number.

Comments

just a thought

[mattp.livejournal.com]

and ask them to remove our number from their database. Whoever I speak to is always terribly apologetic and promises to do so, but then they only go and bloody ring us up again a couple of weeks later

Isn't that illegal? You've asked to be removed from a list and obviously haven't. I'm no lawyer, so I could be wrong.

[adjectivemarcus.livejournal.com]

Put on a gruff male voice and answer their questions, but in a completely insane way. They won't want his input after that. :o)

[lovingboth]

Nah, tell them that Bob is now Roberta, and start talking about how you now realise the importance of world peace and how you have now renounced your previous miltaristic 'life'...

[evilref.livejournal.com]

If you really want it to stop, report it as a nuisance call. It will stop - and quickly - because if it doesn't, BT will cut off their phone. Yes, even the BBC's phone - they are legally obliged to do so.

If you want some fun, write to them and advise them that they have the wrong number. Also advise them that from now on you will pretend to be Colonel Bob, and give them something completely unprintable. With any luck, the Nine O'Clock News will tell us that World War 3 has been declared - because you have told them this.

If you're feeling really kind, copy the letters to Sky News...