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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that yes, you actually were racist...

59 replies

pamplem0usse · 27/02/2013 20:11

john Lewis...
Massive muck up with order...
Guy who I spoke to on Saturday didn't call back on Sunday as promised.
Spoke to a manager who said 'I dont mean to be racist Mrs Fostee but did the person you spoke to have an Indian accent?

John Lewis only have British call centres.

WWYD

OP posts:
chickensarmpit · 27/02/2013 20:12

Yeah, erm, how the hell is that racist?

ThedementedPenguin · 27/02/2013 20:14

Maybe an Indian person works in this British call centre?

BallyGoBackwards · 27/02/2013 20:14

I dont see this as racist.

Original poster
pamplem0usse · 27/02/2013 20:16

He was implying I`d spoken to a differwnt call centre.

OP posts:
50ShadesOfGreggs · 27/02/2013 20:17

Could be just trying to identity who the employee was?

In my office I am one of only 2 females, all the other employees are male. When people ask for "the lady" they have been speaking to, they get asked whether she had a local accent or a foreign one. It is the only way to work out who they mean if they can't remember us by name.

This is maybe a similar situation?

bedmonster · 27/02/2013 20:17

I would stop trying to find fault when it's not there.

Foggles · 27/02/2013 20:17

I thought he was trying to pinpoint the person you had spoken to so he could look into the matter.

Kayano · 27/02/2013 20:18

Maybe they have a guy in the British call centre who has an accent and hasn't been calling people back he has promised too and are just checking?

No idea, a bit random

Although I had a similar conversation with a woman in John Lewis when I had been promised over the phone I could collect something and when I went it wasn't there.
'Did he have a Scottish accent?'
'Yes!'
'Oh that would have been Peter.'

Etc etc

Hassled · 27/02/2013 20:19

I think I'd take it that one person who could have taken your initial call happens to have an Indian accent, and the guy was trying to work out if it had been that person you'd dealt with. He might just as well have asked if he had a Welsh accent.

PS - do you know you've put a name in your OP that isn't your nickname, IYSWIM?

chickensarmpit · 27/02/2013 20:19

I hate indian call centres, does that make me racist?
I have no idea what they're saying (bad hearing).

MrsDoomsPatterson · 27/02/2013 20:20

I think you are guilty of overthinking this somewhat.

mynewpassion · 27/02/2013 20:20

I don't think this is racist either. Just getting the facts.

MadCap · 27/02/2013 20:20

I don't see anything racist there. Agree with other posters who say they were just trying to identify someone.

Original poster
pamplem0usse · 27/02/2013 20:22

yes its not my real name either.
he said ` he said you spoke to alan here; did alan transfee you elsewhere 'i dont mean to be racist..... etc etc

OP posts:
MunchkinsMumof2 · 27/02/2013 20:23

God,is this all you have to worry about? You need to find your missing grip, Op. it's as far from being racist as the UK is from Oz!

MechanicalTheatre · 27/02/2013 20:24

Well, it's not like everyone who lives in Britain is British. Maybe he just means an Indian colleague that works with him?

midastouch · 27/02/2013 20:25

I dont think it was being racist

mrsjay · 27/02/2013 20:25

if they said did they have a scottish or irish accent be racist or if it was a woman be sexist You are looking for something that really isnt there he was trying to find out who you spoke too and Im not sure why he said im not meaning to be racist

Corygal · 27/02/2013 20:26

Maybe the manager or a colleague who's off sick has an Indian accent - he was just trying to trace your order?

KatyTheCleaningLady · 27/02/2013 20:27

Was the manager saying/implying, "Well, was the problem because you were talking to a foreigner because you know how those Indian call centres are?" Because that would be maybe a bit racist. But, I can't tell the context of what he's saying.

That said, if you find yourself about to preface something with "I'm not racist but.." or "I don't mean to be racist..." the odds are that you should say it.

13Iggis · 27/02/2013 20:28

Him saying "I'm not meaning to be racist" is the odd thing, and as we know it is a phrase usually used by people who are about to say something very racist!

teaforthree · 27/02/2013 20:29

It's not racist but he was obviously worried about offending you that he got flustered and came out with shite a peculiar phrase.

SnotMeReally · 27/02/2013 20:29

but if they only have Uk call centres, why are you saying he thought you were talking about another call centre?

if he was saying that he'd be implying you had rung the wrong company??

MustafaCake · 27/02/2013 20:29

Not racist at all.

He was just trying to find out who you'd spoken to.

It's exactly the same as asking was it a man or woman you spoke to.

Nothing to get worked up about IMHO.

twilight3 · 27/02/2013 20:29

hmm.... I wouldn't think it was racist if he hadn't started the sentence with "I don't mean to be racist". I don't see HOW it is racist, but usually, when people start a sentence with "I don't mean to be racist/rude/inappropriate etc.", is because they're planning to do exactly that in the rest of that sentence.