Mark describes his research into Ontario collection agencies during the Covid-19 pandemic and shares some of the unusual after-hours voicemail greetings he heard when calling the agencies' listed numbers.
Transcript
In March of this year we started to research a story tentatively titled How Many Ontario Collection Agencies Will Close Their Doors in 2021? There are 175 licensed collection agencies in Ontario, and we started our research by calling these collection agencies at the telephone number that they have listed with the Ontario government. We called these telephone numbers outside of regular business hours, and we did come across some very bizarre voicemail greetings. We're about to share these with you.
The greetings
“Thank you for calling Go Beyond. Our office is now closed. Please call back during our usual opening hours, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, when we'll be happy to help. Alternatively, leave a message after the tone and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.”
“Thank you for calling. Our office is a debt collector. Any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Our office is currently closed. Normal business hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, Eastern Standard Time. You may enter your party's extension at any time. For a list of extensions, press 1. Otherwise, please hold to leave a general message that will be returned on the next business day. Please leave your name, telephone number and a detailed message. Your call will be returned on the next business day.”
“Please enter the call ID followed by the pound key. Unable to recognize that call ID. Please try again. Please enter the call ID followed by the pound key. Please try again. This is your last attempt. Please enter the call ID followed by the pound key. Unable to recognize that call ID. Goodbye.”
“You have reached a mailbox. Please leave your message after the tone. After leaving a message, you can hang up or press pound for more options.” Another: “The person you have reached is currently unavailable. Please leave a message after the tone. When you have finished, please hang up or press the pound key for more options.” And another: “Your call has been forwarded to an automatic voice message system. Collection Recovery Systems is not available. At the tone, please record your message.”
“Hello and welcome to CGI. Say the first and last name of the party you wish to reach, or dial their seven-digit extension number. Please be aware that extension numbers now contain seven digits. Feel free to dial zero if you require assistance. Sorry, I didn't hear you. Which person or service would you like to reach? Okay, transferring you to the operator.” Then, on another recording: “For English instructions, press 1. Welcome to CGI. Our offices are presently closed. Our business hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. If you know the extension number you wish to reach, please dial it now. To consult the telephone directory, press 2. If you do not have a touch-tone phone, please call during regular business hours. Thank you.”
“Thank you for calling FIJ Law. If you know your party's extension, you may dial it at any time. Otherwise, choose from one of the following options. For the company directory, dial pound. For the company address and fax number, dial star 1. For all other inquiries, dial star 0, or stay on the line and someone will assist you shortly.” And: “You've reached reception at Continental Legal Services. Unfortunately, no one is available to take your call. Kindly leave your name and number and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. At the tone, please record your message. When you are finished recording, you may hang up or press pound for more options.”
Pandemic messages
“Commercial Credit Adjusters recognizes the profound impact that Canadian families are facing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether your health is affected or your family is experiencing financial difficulty during this crisis, we are here to help. We encourage you to speak to one of our customer service agents and update your account profile with your current circumstances. We will ensure creditors are properly advised of your circumstances, and we will make every effort to help you with the appropriate solutions to meet your needs. We are all in this together.”
“Hello, thank you for calling Commercial Credit Adjusters. Please be advised that this call may be recorded to ensure accuracy. If you know the extension you are trying to reach, you may enter it at any time. If you have an overdue account and would like to discuss payment, please press 1. To access the company directory, press 9, or stay on the line and our receptionist will assist you. If you would like to speak to an operator, please stay on the line. Please be aware all calls may be recorded to ensure accuracy. For a name directory, press 9. We appreciate your call and your patience while waiting for assistance. We'll be with you as soon as possible.”
A non-profit credit counselling agency
“Thank you for calling Credit Canada Debt Solutions. Our administrative office is presently closed. To leave a message in our general mailbox, press 1. For a detailed message about our service, press 2. For information about Credit Canada, a non-profit charity operating since 1966: we provide confidential financial counselling and debt repayment assistance to people in need. Professional credit counselling is available by telephone, in person or online. Please visit our website to find out more about us and to complete our online debt assessment. To leave a message in our general mailbox, press the pound sign. Please leave a detailed message with your name, phone number, client ID and the best time to contact you, and your call will be returned within 24 business hours.”