Strange Phone Experience

I just had a very strange, even surreal phone call from the NHS, reminding me about a hospital checkup.

It started with an otherworldly gong noise that almost had me slamming the phone down and muttering about scammers and call centres...

Instead a computer voice that randomly switched between an Irish and an English accent - from word to word! It even pronounced my middle name in a different voice to my first and last names!

This did make it hard to concentrate on what was actually said, although I caught it stating missed appointments cost the NHS over £400 (believe it if you dare) then giving me a number to call if I cancel - area code, number then a four-digit extension number spat out faster than i had any hope of following.

It offered me the chance to repeat the experience, but I decided to pass.

Sounds like my new tablet Neil. I purchased it for my multi-rotor work and put it into a 12 month plan so that map data could be downloaded. Aussie Telco could not give me the long term plan on line as the 'clickable link' was redundant, it only gave me the monthly options as ' clickable'.

So went into town and got a lecture from the teenage staff in the local store as to why a monthly account would be nicer until I pointed out that $30 x 12 months was a bit more expensive than $150 for unlimited data for 365 days.

After a bit of calculator work we agreed and I managed to obtain a SIM card for my tablet.

Now my tablet has it's own phone #, disclosed to nobody but already has calls and messages asking me to ring back.

I checked the numbers, all are at premium rates! Looks like I have been sold out by somebody already.

* Danny M *

"Alexa ... call Neil "

Neil

This is another bit of software that somebody has sold the NHS.

We have reguarly received these calls due to a series of ongoing appointments with the NHS. This system is not universal, I don't get them but my wife does!

It is important to listen to the message as at some point you will be asked to press a number to confirm you are going to attend the appointment.

Problems can occur if you speak to a real live person to change your appointment and they don't update the appointment system.

Jon

Neil we receive similar calls for appointments for my wife’s ongoing medical problems. Yes you need to listen carefully because they usually require a response if you intend to keep the appointment, ours in East Sussex don’t use varying accents just a form of Queens English so able to understand.

Dave W