This is somewhat belated, but I’m only getting up to speed on sharing the crazy things that’ve happened over the course of the last two months.
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Back in July, I received a message from one of the Checkpoint Theatre interns saying: “A call for you came in via the Checkpoint Theatre landline – it’s from [redacted], who says it’s a personal call and left her number [redacted]. I said I’d let you know”.
So I thank the intern and look through my phone book – I have four female friends with the same name but the number is not one I’ve stored.
So I am very wary because I know none of these friends have changed their numbers recently, and they won’t be such kookaburras as to resort to such a roundabout way of getting in touch with me.
So I cautiously call the number and wait…
She: Hello?
Me: Er, hello? Is this [redacted]?
She: Ah yes! Is this Laremy?
Me: Yes, it’s me.
She: Thanks for returning my call! I thought I’d give you a call because I read your article in Her World Singapore.
Me: OK…
She: The May issue.
Me: OK…
She: So I Googled your name and I came across the Checkpoint Theatre website and I thought I’d call you there.
Me: OK…
She: I’m actually from AIA Singapore…
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Many people – because I posted this encounter on Facebook – seemed to agree that she was “dedicated to her job” and that she should be given “points for [her] effort” at tracking down a new customer.
I guess… but I also thought it was a tad manipulative/unethical. Besides, can insurance agents do this kinda thing? Isn’t there a law against obtaining information in a certain manner?
In any case, my favourite solution is this comment from a friend:
Give me her number? I have IT solutions to sell to her. Hopefully she also has friends with the same name as well.
(For the record, I didn’t give her number away, though I was sorely tempted to lodge a complaint with AIA.)
