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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think he was trying to make a fool out of me?

21 replies

VerWrongIca · 09/09/2018 18:35

Granted I know this happened Friday but I’m thinking about it for tomorrow.

Basically I have a nightmare client and when I spoke to him on the phone he kept saying he couldn’t hear me. I raised my voice very loud (to the point colleagues were giggling) and then he started saying - I still can’t hear you. Go on shout as loud as you can! Shout! Blush

I work in a large open plan office and to be shouting a conversation would be humiliating.

Oh and I’ve spoken to him before and he never complained about not hearing me before (no other client has) and he’d just spoken to a male colleague and could hear him just fine.

OP posts:
WoollyMollyMonkey · 09/09/2018 18:41

Sounds like he was winding you up. If he does it again tell him to hang up and phone back as the line must be bad.

IfIWasABirdIdFlyIn2ACeilingFan · 09/09/2018 18:43

Oh, well then he couldn’t possibly hear you call him a wanker and report you to your manager, could he? Wink

JontyDoggle37 · 09/09/2018 18:44

If he tries it tomorrow, just say ‘ Your technology appears to be letting you down, as we aren’t having issues with any other clients. I suggest you call back when you are in a better signal area.’ Best said in a slightly raised (and patronising ) tone.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 09/09/2018 18:45

Make a point of asking him to speak up every time you speak to him on the phone or in real life.

After all, it's only fun, isn't it?

He sounds like a total twat! And Woollys suggestion is far better than mine.

Is there any way you can gift him to someone else?

user1471453601 · 09/09/2018 18:52

Maybe he has problems hearing higher register voices? I have lost my lower register hearing, so can hear DD, but not her partner.

Or he could be taking the piss.

If the latter, he's not only taking the piss out of you, but out of all of us with substantial hearing loss. The pathetic sod. Sorry, no advice as to how you can possibly tell which it is.

Original poster
VerWrongIca · 09/09/2018 18:54

Maybe he has problems hearing higher register voices? I have lost my lower register hearing, so can hear DD, but not her partner.

Like I said in my OP I’ve spoken to him before and he miraculously could hear me fine then.

I only raised my voice higher when he kept interrupting me to say he couldn’t hear me.

OP posts:
DrBlof · 10/09/2018 07:38

Maybe he couldn't hear you. Just a thought ...

Maybe that doesn't fit your 'oppressive patriarchy' theme?

WoollyMollyMonkey · 10/09/2018 09:05

Jeez, some of the replies on here! Why don’t they read what the OP has written?

Cath2907 · 10/09/2018 09:10

I'd hang up and call him back and keep repeating. It is how I actually deal if the client on the other end of the line is telling me they can't hear me. They wouldn't hear me saying I'm about to hang up and call back either so mostly I just hang up on them and re-dial.

NonaGrey · 10/09/2018 09:13

If I felt he was deliberately trying to embarrass me I would have said,

“I’m sorry you can’t hear me, let’s do this by email instead.”

ButDoYouAvocado · 10/09/2018 09:24

The OP has clearly stated he has not had an issue hearing her before.

He was being a twat.

nikkylou · 10/09/2018 09:54

This guy sounds a bit of twat. What normally gives it away that they can hear you is that they don't interrupt with hello? Hello? but instead wait till you have finished...
I had one like this before..I knew he could hear me slightly! I asked one of male colleagues to call him back in case there was an issue with my high voice.
Turns out the guy has left his hearing aids out...
Why he didn't tell me instead of repeatedly saying i can't hear you can you turn your phone up? I don't know...

inTheBoredroom · 10/09/2018 13:43

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UpstartCrow · 10/09/2018 13:47

Already nightmare client being even more of a twat. Happens all the time.

SpiritedLondon · 10/09/2018 13:53

When you say he’s a “nightmare” is there other behaviour that he engages in which would lead you to believe that he was doing it deliberately. Has he been difficult about other matters? I think I’d be tempted to say “ I’m so sorry this is a terrible line - I can’t hear you” and then hang up. ( but you’re probably more professional than me)

ShalomJackie · 10/09/2018 13:55

I speak to my friend on the phone a lot. Yesterday I couldn't hear her. Does that mean I was being even more of a twat than I usually am or was it because I couldn't hear her on this occasion?

Nothisispatrick · 10/09/2018 13:57

I would’ve said ‘no problem, I’ll send an email instead’. Don’t get drawn into yelling down the phone!

MayFayner · 10/09/2018 14:01

“It must be a bad line, I’ll email you”

BYE NOW

Then email him in about an hour.

inTheBoredroom · 10/09/2018 14:05

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Piffle11 · 10/09/2018 14:11

It's the 'go on shout ...' that makes me think he's winding you up. Pretty crappy joke. As others have said, if it happens again, just terminate the call and try again, until he gets the message that you're not going to play ball. Many years ago I had a bizarre call with a male colleague in a different department, who was trying to get me to say something that would have made me sound idiotic: I found out later from someone who sits near him that he had me on speakerphone. Don't know why the dickhead thought it would be funny to try and humiliate someone.

Rebecca36 · 10/09/2018 14:15

He was taking the p**s. Suggest he gets one of those things people have on their 'phones to make conversations sound louder - usually for people whose hearing is going. Or else stick to emails.

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