As a general rule, people who are rude to the gatekeeper are not only entitled, but ignorant. And their name may or may not be Karen.

In this case, the gatekeeper is the receptionist. Read about how this receptionist put an end to recurring rude and demanding calls from a Karen.

It’s satisfying, but also professional. I tip my hat to her.

Stopping a rude, irate phone caller in their tracks.

(Note: This happened over fifteen years ago. Names changed to protect the guilty.)

So, I was a temp, doing office temp jobs in the hops of getting hired. My agency sent me to a brokerage firm, in a higher-end area of town (think Mercedes Benzes and Porsches in the driveways).

Efficiency is extra important for a busy person! Filter out the unnecessary stuff.

Anyway, I was a receptionist. My boss was a nice enough person, and she was very busy with tons of meetings and incoming calls.

…early on in my stint there, I would regularly get a call each day by a woman from a number I did not recognize, that went like this:

I get the feeling she’d be mad if the E.R. triage put her and broken fingernail behind a heart attack patient.

Me: “Hello, (name of brokerage), how can I help you?”

Her: “GET ME (boss’s name) ON THE PHONE, NOW!!

Me, flustered and panicking: “Uh…I’m sorry, she’s in a meeting—”

Oh, this sounds important after all!

Her “I DON’T CARE IF SHE’S IN A MEETING, GET HER ON THE PHONE NOW!!

That’s awful. I hate that people are happy to mess with your mental and physical health for no reason.

Me, having a full-on anxiety attack: “I’ll see what I can do.” *I check on my boss, and she’s in a conference with people. Lots of suits, and lots papers on the meeting table.* I return to the phone. “I’m sorry, she’s still meeting with—”

Nope, change my mind. Serious Karen vibes.

Her: “I DON’T CARE! NOW GET (name of boss) ON THE PHONE! NOW!!

Me: “May I take a message and tell her who called?”

We have a Karen in aisle three.

Her: “NO, YOU MAY NOT TAKE A MESSAGE OR TELL HER WHO CALLED!! GET HER ON THE PHONE, NOW!!

I like how chill her boss is.

…I would then interrupt my boss’s meeting in a full-on panic mode, tell her about the insistent, irate caller, and she would pause the meeting and take the call. After having these experiences a few times, the boss would tell me, “That’s just Lynn, an office manager from the (name of a nearby city) branch. The next time she calls, just take a message.”

Drat, I hate when Karens are hidden

…Only I didn’t recognize Lynn’s number.

Of course. Typical coward.

When Lynn finally did come in, in person…she was the exact opposite of her phone persona: She dressed in muted colors, kept her head down, would not make eye contact with me or say ‘Hi,’ spoke in low tones, and seemed very reserved with other people in the office.

Finally, a pattern. This should have been easier.

So, after three weeks of my having to call Lynn’s office every other day, and sometimes directly dialing Lynn, and hearing Lynn talk, I matched Lynn’s voice with her direct number. Now I know who was screaming at me.

Oooh a covert operation. My favorite!

…Only, I didn’t let Lynn know that I knew who she was, and that I knew her direct line now. When it came to Lynn, I continued a, “I’m sorry, I’m just the temp–with whom am I speaking?” front whenever I called.

You are now a tiger. Pounce!

So, one day towards the end of my stint, I received yet another Lynn call.

–And this time, I was ready.

Normally I condense these, but this is too good. Enjoy.

Me: “Hello, (name of brokerage), how can I help you?”

Lynn: “GET ME (boss’s name) ON THE PHONE, NOW!!

Me: “She’s in a meeting right now, would you—”

Lynn: “I DON’T CARE IF SHE’S IN A MEETING, GET HER ON THE PHONE NOW!!

Me: “She asked me to take messages. May I ask who you are—”

Lynn: “NO, YOU MAY NOT ASK WHO I AM! PUT HER ON THE PHONE AREADY!”

Me: “–And may I ask the reason for your call?”

Lynn: “NO! PUT HER ON THE PHONE AND QUIT WASTING MY TIME!!”

Me: “May I have a number for her to call you back—”

Lynn: “NO! I SAID PUT HER ON THE PHONE!!”

I like it. Straight to the point. No drama. Just point out what makes no sense.

Me, savoring the moment as I drop the bomb: “So, Lynn, you want me to interrupt (name of boss’s) meeting, and when she asks why, I’ll have to tell her that Lynn wouldn’t give me a callback number, the reason why she’s calling, and she didn’t want to leave a message. Is that what I will have to tell her, Lynn?”

Of course. But pretty sedate for a Karen.

Lynn: “…no…” (Complete 180-degree change in voice and demeanor from Lynn.)

Me: “Shall I leave (name of boss) a message and tell her you called, Lynn?”

Lynn: “…yeah…”

Me: “Very good, Lynn.” *Cue me, hanging up the phone.*

THIS! This is why you insist on people respecting on you. Otherwise they’ll walk all over you.

Boom! Bomb dropped, target demolished. The rest of my stint finished with Lynn being at least cordial to me on the phone, and no more shouting.

Let’s see what people in the comments thought.

This is so true and makes it especially heinous. But why mess with the person who controls whether you can get the person you need? Makes no sense.

Good idea. It’s the only way they’ll learn and the only motivation they’ll have to change.

I understand the sentiment, but this is different. It could patients in danger.

Well said. A great definition of a coward and a bully.

I completely agree. It’s sad that women are conditioned to think being assertive is a bad a thing and that many still believe it.

If you can serve someone what’s coming to them in a classy, professional and effective way, why not?

If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about a daughter who invited herself to her parents’ 40th anniversary vacation for all the wrong reasons.