[woofa.express]

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Chapter 4.

In the 80’s I built a house with walls constructed from the bricks of an old homestead that burned beyond rebuild. They were more than 100yo and were retrieved and semi cleaned by a enterprising bloke with excess labour in the form of his many children. Before the delivery had been completed he changed the agreement and wanted more money. I didn’t pay that excess and stood on principle and dignity. Well he took me to court. The amount was only $1,500. A solicitor representing me pointed out it was not inconceivable the case could last a couple of days potentially costing 20k. That and other things he said and they way he said it made me nervous. I paid. As I drove home I felt quite bitter and was later told courts are not about justise but are about making a settlement. I made a resolution which I have adhered to ever since. That is I would deal only with people I felt comfortable with. It works. I have also learned the term ‘commercial realism’.
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Whilst I have been composing the above, I have received an email from “Lisa” asking if this is my new email address. About a fortnight ago I received an email with an invite attached. Some unknown person wanting confirmation of my address which no doubt will be followed by a scam or demand of some sort.
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I get numerous calls from the tax dept stating I owe money. I tell them there is no problem, just put a bill in the mail. It never turns up and I need not wonder why.
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This one is so repetitious. I receive a phone call, a recorded voice, and I am told your internet has been scammed, press 1 on your phone to have it resolved otherwise it will be disconnected within 24 hours. I do press one and tell the respondent (real person this time) that would be so pleased to have it disconnected because I have tired of it. It never is of course. For this call I have another response to a real person. I ask as many questions as he or she are patient enough to answer. When the other party is starting to become a little impatient I say, there has been a mistake and when asked what it is I say I don’t have the internet. I get one of two responses. One, they simply hang up or two, I receive a long tirade of abuse.
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I do have another. And by example, seller of American Express credit card. It goes like this.
Good morning Sir, (this bloke had good manners). Do you have American Express.
No I don’t.
Do you know American Express offers this, and this, and this plus free travel insurance, plus this and this and this.
No, I didn’t know that. That’s interesting. I stretch the time taken for as long as the seller can stand it.
Then comes the sales and it goes like this, “are you interested?”
To which my response is “not particularly”.
Well if they waste my time I figure out I too can waste theirs.
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Another way to be rid of sales people quickly is, and again by example. I can be in new car show room and a sales man approaches. He is smiling and greets me with a handshake.
He might say, now that’s a nice model to which I respond, yes it is isn’t it.
He tells me the merits of the vehicle which can take a little time and then askes would I like it.
I respond with ‘oh yes I would’. He smiles again and I further add but I don’t have the money. His smile drops off his face followed by his disappearance. A fairly rapid disappearance.