How did you get my number?

[riversandlakes]

No way! Does that happen when you talk to the banks' hotlines?

OCBC's been very friendly and professional. I think much more so than Citibank KL's!

When I first arrived, Singlish confused me a bit. I thanked someone on the phone for something they'd done: "Ah, don't care" she said casually.

[Mary Hatch Bailey]

There are two separate issues here I think:

1) the rhythm of Singaporean phone conversations is often baffling to Westerners. The usual and familiar rules don't apply and the simplist conversation is filled with awkward, pregnant pauses.

2) Telemarketers are an annoying intrusion. No doubt. But think about your comfortable home and comfortable life -- and cut them some slack. At least they are trying . You can be firm without being rude.

[Wham]

There is one thing that Sinaporeans do on the phone that is nice. They will ask "have you taken your lunch?" It is kind of like the western "hows it going" where you don't expect a long answer - just a simple "oh fine, how 'bout you?" The first time i lived here in 1989 i picked up this habit. I still do it. The funny thing is, when i used to do it in the US, people were not used to it and would often go into a description of what they had for lunch. I kind of liked it as you learn a lot about people from what they had for lunch.

btw, i just had Veal Marsala with a nice Chiant with Mrs Wham...

[riversandlakes]

You've got that right, Wham!
Actually, "chi bao le ma?" is directly translated as "Have you eaten?" It's indeed the equivalent of the "How are you?"

[Wham]

R&L, and happy new year to you also...

[samantha]

I got this

caller: Hello
me: bonjour

caller: pause
me: yes?

caller: I'm --- calling from --- bank, I would like to speak to to you about getting a new credit card.
me: eh? wat for?

caller: oh, its very good. (blah blah blah for 3 min telling me abt the card)
me: whatever. do you know how old I am?

caller: nope.
me: i was hoping you would. any way, I need you to explain why a 16 year old with no money would require a credit card?

caller: [silence]
me: good.. I knew you couldn't answer that. Now, hang up before i send my phone bill to your company. Au revoir..

Caller: [hang-up]

[samantha]

I got another to my home phone.

Caller: Hi is this Samantha? I am calling from xxx shopping centre. Guess what? you won a consolation price in our lucky draw!! We would like you to...

Me: Hold it. One, i have not filled out any lucky draw coupons for the last 3 years. Two, i have never gone to that shopping centre before. And who gave you the permission to call me Samantha? its Ms Lee to you. How rude.. I wanna report you to your superior!!

Caller: [mumbled] sorry... [hung up]

Haha.. I do love making their life difficult for them...

[Mary Hatch Bailey]

And who gave you the permission to call me Samantha? its Ms Lee to you. How rude.. I wanna report you to your superior!!

Caller: [mumbled] sorry... [hung up]

Haha.. I do love making their life difficult for them...

Like I said, I think a little compassion goes a long way here...