The Most Idiotic...

[bainbrig]

I was on the phone to Kaspersky’s so-called Help Line speaking to possibly the most stupid person I’ve ever come across.

She couldn’t grasp my email address (CAT etc) so asked me to spell it out.

“Charlie Alpha Tango” I began.

“Could you please spell that.”

“What?”

“The first word.”

She meant CHARLIE.....

[wolf63]

You weren't being too much of an idiot, or did you ... ?

[Mamyalynne]

I once spelt out my postcode over the phone as requested and that's how the envelope came addressed...

Bravo, Lima....

[Buenchico]

I'm reminded of a helpline call I made to my credit card provider when I didn't recognise a transaction on my statement. The woman on the other end of the phone kept telling me that I'd paid "Charlie Roy" and I was sure that I didn't know of anyone (or any company) with that name.

I eventually remembered that I'd purchased rail tickets, using that card, at Charleroi Airport in Belgium ;-)

[maggiebee]

Ha ha Mamya - did the same starting Delta Delta 2. Sorry says she, I don't know what you're talking about!

[Mamyalynne]

If I'm feeling awkward (who me? never)) I use Mamya's phonetic alphabet - that throws em.

[jno]

she probably doesn't work for the military. Personally, I'd say "C for Charlie, A for Alpha" - or less esoterically, "C for Cat, A for Apple".

Or if I had time on my hands, ""C for ships, A for orses..."

[maggiebee]

Could have lots of fun making up your own phonetic alphabet. I would do mine in the Doric!

[ummmm]

It's not taught in schools so it doesn't make her an idiot!

I only know it because I worked with cars.

[ummmm]

And I do it like jno says. I'm always asked to spell my surname (even though it's easy to spell) and it's M - for Mike...O - for Oscar etc etc

[Prudie]

Agreed, it wasn't even taught in schools in the olden days :-) You probably will only get familiar with it 'on the job'.

[Mamyalynne]

I don't think it makes anyone idiotic either and though I didn't say so in my above account I did say...

B for Bravo, L for Lima etc

[ummmm]

I suppose I can include myself in the 'olden days' :-)

[ummmm]

I didn't even have Google when I had to learn it :-D

[Bazile]

In my office someone was spelling a word out , for someone on the phone .
All was going 'well' until he got to 'G' - whereupon he said '' G for grapes ''

It tickled the rest of us :-)

[bainbrig]

The point was SHE asked me to “spell it” - how else are you supposed to “spell” CAT over the phone? I don’t use terms like ‘idiot’ lightly.

[Mamyalynne]

Are you any good at animal impressions?

Sorry :-)

[nailit]

For those of you that know my surname, I get sick of spelling it. Its not that difficult even, ...only 3 syllables

[TonyV]

Always use phonetic alphabet when giving postcode

[janzman]

If you speak clearly and enunciate correctly you don't have to use the phonetic alphabet

[bainbrig]

Janz (If you speak clearly and enunciate correctly you don't have to use the phonetic alphabet)

To a foreigner with imperfect English on a bad phone line?

Good for you, fellah.