Seriously, a phone call with a rooster!!
By Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (37507)
April 30, 2023 8:30pm CST
I had a mastercard gift card I wanted to use. When I tried to use it, it said it had been ''compromised'' and used before it was even purchased! I had heard of this scam back around Christmas time but didn't think about it as I got it for a gift and put it away for a while.
I called mastercard gift card hotline and after many failed attempts, finally got to talk to an actual human. It is so hard to understand why they hook us up with people who are truly struggling to speak and understand English. I realize they need jobs and are trying to work, but I do speak very clearly, and I had to repeat everything I said, as well as ask him to clarify everything he said. In the background, we had competition in the form of a ROOSTER!! It crowed about every 90 seconds!! It was honestly hysterical when you think about it, mastercards and roosters, but hey...I finally asked him, do you have chickens there? and he said yes, and today they were very noisy. He lives in Chile and works from home and keeps chickens.
Even though it was a rather difficult, time-consuming call to be able to fix the problem (they are sending me a new one) it was definitely hilarious, trying to compete with a rooster!!
Rooster courtesy of pixabay.
17 people like this
17 responses
@AmbiePam (92719)
• United States
1 May 23
Oh, dear. That IS hilarious, but sounds oh do frustrating. I have had a problem with Amazon when they eventually send me to a human after having problems with their service. The person they connect me with is always nice, but it is very clear English is not their first language. I feel so bad that they don’t understand me that I end up apologizing for the inconvenience. I feel like we’re both being done a disservice. After all, everyone is just trying their best.
Sometimes all you can do is laugh, and you sure had a good reason to do so!
5 people like this
@AmbiePam (92719)
• United States
1 May 23
@MarieCoyle I imagine his rooster was very lovable!
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37507)
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1 May 23
@AmbiePam
I've always liked chickens. Several places I have lived before, I had some and enjoyed that.
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37507)
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1 May 23
The main thing was, he was trying his best, as you said. He was working to support his family, as well as his noisy rooster! 
3 people like this
@Jenaisle (14078)
• Philippines
1 May 23
That's hilarious indeed. Yes, these online jobs sometimes have personnel based all over the world. There are many BOCs here in the Philippines, and some are doing it from their homes, so the customer may hear noises from the personnel's surroundings. People need work and some have only this means to do it.
I admire your patience in dealing with that issue. Have a good week ahead of you.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37507)
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1 May 23
We can't help but admire people trying to make a living in any circumstance. I didn't laugh until I hung up, but it truly was funny! And that was one very loud rooster!
2 people like this
@Jenaisle (14078)
• Philippines
1 May 23
@MarieCoyle That's so polite of you. I'm glad it didn't annoy you to the point where you would just hang up without continuing the conversation.
That's so polite of you. I'm glad it didn't annoy you to the point where you would just hang up without continuing the conversation.2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37507)
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1 May 23
@Jenaisle
In conversations over the phone, and sometimes even online, my overactive imagination sometimes just kicks in, and I find myself imagining the place the person is in, what it looks like and so forth...I kept thinking how difficult it must be to deal with the rooster racket while trying to work and speak with someone who didn't speak his native language...I honestly wasn't annoyed. I had to admire the fellow for trying so hard.
3 people like this
@allknowing (136438)
• India
1 May 23
Work from home could provide interesting backgrounds roosters included (lol)
1 person likes this
@allknowing (136438)
• India
1 May 23
@MarieCoyle I have heard dogs barking (lol)
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37507)
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1 May 23
There have been a few calls to solve issues that I could hear babies or children in the background, but roosters are a new one for me!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37507)
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1 May 23
@allknowing
Dogs, roosters, babies...I have to wonder what's next? Piggies snorting? LOL.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37507)
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1 May 23
@rebelann
I am glad that someone else thinks they talk too fast, as well. I was starting to think maybe there was something wrong with me, not being able to understand them.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37507)
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1 May 23
Sometimes I feel so inadequate when I can't understand them over the phone. Speaking Spanish in the US by those of us who simply learned it in school is nothing compared to anyone who speaks native Spanish. I pick up words at times, but they all talk so very fast! I think I would understand more if they spoke a bit slower. But then again, maybe they think WE talk too fast as well!
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218846)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 May 23
I only got me new cell phone because of a rooster. The lady who cold called me was in the Filippines, and it was early evening where I live. When the rooster started crowing, I confirmed that she was nearing the end of her Midnight to 8 AM shift. It was so hilarious (she laughed too) I bought the phone.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218846)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 May 23
@MarieCoyle That sounds like a novel but most realistic marketing plan. By the way, workers who speak essentailly no English drive me nuts.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37507)
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1 May 23
@TheHorse
I do wish at times that companies hiring these people would try to keep their calls to people who can speak their native language, but most of the time I can understand it, although it can be a struggle. It can be very frustrating when we just can't understand.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37507)
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1 May 23
I enjoyed it so much. Never had a rooster phone call before! Maybe we should let all the telephone workers know that it helps to have a rooster crowing in the background! Hey, ya never know!
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
2 May 23
@MarieCoyle Yes it is real. I ordered a gift for a friend who lost husband and it never arrived. Customer service had a rooster. 
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37507)
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2 May 23
@CarolDM
It's rather funny when they just keep crowing over and over. This guy told me he didn't think that rooster ever stopped crowing, it crowed all night long. I would be tempted to put him in a stewpot!!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37507)
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2 May 23
Hey, maybe it is! I haven't ever heard of hearing a rooster on any of these calls before, but after posting and reading the comments, it's evidently a real thing!
1 person likes this
@marguicha (223010)
• Chile
1 May 23
Last week I talked with a girl from a call center that was in Colombia and was at home saying things to her small daughter at the same time. 
1 person likes this
@marguicha (223010)
• Chile
1 May 23
@MarieCoyle There are Call Centers in other countries here because wages are less than in Chile.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37507)
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1 May 23
I think many people are working from home here in the US because they can't find affordable childcare. Or any childcare at all.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37507)
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1 May 23
@marguicha
I never really expect to get a person who speaks English as a primary language on one of these calls. That's OK, I know we just have to learn to adapt. Never before had to contend with a rooster that seemed intent on having his voice heard!
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471506)
• Switzerland
1 May 23
Oh my goodness. It is getting harder and harder to get support from people who speak and understand our own language. I called the support for my smartphone last week, I am sure I landed to someone in India, I tried three different languages and I gave up.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471506)
• Switzerland
2 May 23
@MarieCoyle - My carrier website gave me the Hot Line number to call, that is not even free. I think all their support is in India, those young guys spoke very poor English and they could not speak other languages.
I will try again another day at another time.
@MarieCoyle (37507)
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1 May 23
Oh, wow. I don't know 3 languages, hard to believe they couldn't route you to somewhere that they at least try to match your languages for communications. Maybe you can get some help online from your carrier's website, Anna.
1 person likes this
@rakski (122992)
• Philippines
2 May 23
@MarieCoyle that is true, you just have to laugh it off
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37507)
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2 May 23
@rakski
Laughter certainly does improve moods as well as life in general! And none of us laugh enough, anyway!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37507)
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1 May 23
Nor had I!! We are living in times we never imagined. At least this was a iight note with laughter being no extra charge!
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (79858)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
2 May 23
That is amusing and I am glad you got that taken care of,
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (41427)
• United States
1 May 23
Well, that beats all the foreign calls I've had to navigate!
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (41427)
• United States
1 May 23
@MarieCoyle I thought it was hilarious.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37507)
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1 May 23
@1creekgirl
It really was. I shared the story of the call with my son, he thinks there could be more of things like this in our future, as more people work from home trying to make ends meet.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37507)
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1 May 23
Vicki, it was a totally new, but really funny, experience for me!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37507)
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1 May 23
I have had to call places or received calls and heard odd sounds, but never a rooster over the phone before!
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99405)
• Atlanta, Georgia
2 May 23
@MarieCoyle The rooster put the homey touch to the episode.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37507)
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1 May 23
The rooster just put an entirely different slant on this call and made me laugh!
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (178629)
• United States
2 May 23
I'm glad you were able to get a new card. I love running into call center people that work from home. I get a kick out of dogs barking, etc. I do wish they were easier to understand though.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37507)
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2 May 23
I guess we could say we are just learning new things. It does wear on the patience at times, but many things do that.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180703)
• United States
1 May 23
That's a good one! I had to read this discussion after I saw your title!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37507)
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1 May 23
It was a first for me, never had a rooster just constantly crowing during a business call. But at least we got some smiles and laughter out of it all, so it was good!
@MarieCoyle (37507)
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1 May 23
Evidently, there were a lot of these compromised cards and they are trying to fix them. I am glad!
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (106271)
• Marion, Ohio
1 May 23
That would be a pain. Glad you are getting a new card
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37507)
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1 May 23
From my understanding, it happened to many people. I am glad as well!
1 person likes this
