Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Opinions on what was said please

6 replies

Nothingl3ft · 07/02/2026 16:52

Hi,

I'm really confused over an interaction with someone yesterday, they asked me for something and I don't recall a specific part of the request being said, however when this was brought to my attention I responded with "Oh, sorry, I can't have heard you, I'll get it sorted" because genuinely I don't know if it was said and I didn't hear it, so wouldn't recall it, or it wasn't said - though at that point that bit wasn't important to me, just getting the issue sorted. That was all I said.

To which the other person went mad and repeated over and over that they'd said it, and more or less reacted like I had said they didn't say it - I absolutely didn't, but realised quickly that I was on to a loser here and just kept my mouth shut.

It's preyed on my mind because I'm not sure why somehow me saying "I didn't hear you" was interpreted as "You didn't say it" that wasn't what I said, or meant, the likely scenario is I didn't hear that part because there were lots of people talking and background noise, sometimes these things happen, not ideal but if I didn't hear, I didn't hear, I can understand the annoyance of the request not being fully delivered, just not the nastiness that followed and being accused of meaning something I absolutely didn't and certainly didn't say.

How would you have interpreted what I said? (Poll has limited characters but I hope you get the gist)

OP posts:
AgentPidge · 07/02/2026 16:56

Well this person took it the wrong way. They misinterpreted you, just like you did them! Who knows? Maybe they didn't actually say it, but then realised they hadn't but blamed you anyway? Maybe they were just grumpy? We don't know. Doesn't sound as if you did anything wrong. It's one of those things. Shrug your shoulders and get on with your life.

justtheotheronemrswembley · 07/02/2026 16:56

Who is this person? They sound horribly confrontational.

People do get like this though. I often have to tell someone that I didn't hear what they said, or could they repeat something and they nearly always get the arsehole with me. I then point out that I'm hard of hearing and they immediately change tack and say sorry.

Eviangeica · 07/02/2026 17:02

But you didn’t say “I didn’t hear you” you said “I can’t have heard you”. If someone had said “I can’t have heard you” to me I’d personally have translated that to mean I wasn’t clear in what I’d asked or the person was doubting that I’d said it. I wouldn’t have gone mad about it though and there’s no need for nastiness either.

ginasevern · 07/02/2026 18:12

Sounds like a complete overreaction on their part. What's your history with them? I presume this out of character? Are they on the edge of a breakdown!

Nothingl3ft · 08/02/2026 13:20

Thank you for your replies, it was a customer who's order I was taking, and who complained to my supervisor about my attitude.
To me "Oh sorry, I can't have heard you" is directing the blame onto me, as I apologised and added I'd get it sorted straight away, in a polite tone, my supervisor said she couldn't comment as didn't hear (and knows it's really unlike me to have just outright accused a customer of lying).

The thing is even if it wasn't said, or no matter who's 'fault' it was, I wouldn't have been any different, just got it sorted as soon as I could with good grace, because these things happen.
It was the nasty way they spoke to and about me, and the staring at me, making comments to the others they were with (I couldn't hear but I don't suppose they were complimentary!)

It was just very odd and now I'm worried about complaints to head office and reviews/social media - because I've seen it happen to colleagues and it's awful. Almost like they decided I was going to have a problem with them and no matter what I said or did, that's how they reacted.

OP posts:
Lugga · 08/02/2026 13:26

It's just customer service. Sometimes people are dicks. Please don't let this intrude on your weekend, this person is not worth it.

Managers are used to customers being "hard work" sometimes and are very unlikely to count this against you in any way.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page