June 24, 2006
Hook, Line and Sinker
Nope. Not talking about fishing.
All I hear is clickety-click-clicking of the computer keys under my fingers and that of those people who sit next to me. And the occasional, “….do you have the claim number?” or ” No, we don’t cover for STDs that you contract on your vacation….”
Wait! What??? Are you serious? You have to be kidding. Someone asked that question?
Indeed they did. And it’s not the first time. When I first started working for Travel Guard in 2003, I received an insurance telephone call from a gentleman named Mark who wanted to know if we’d cover his medical expenses if he contracted an STD in Las Vegas from a prostitute. I was absolutely mortified in answering his coverage questions. But I managed. He wasn’t too happy with our requirement that we would need proof that he indeed got the clap on his vacation and there’s no way to prove that. After 35 minutes of trying to get him to understand, in a fit of rage, his reply to me was “Well, I’ll just tie the girl up, take a picture of her with a newspaper in her hand and if I get HIV you’ll know it was from that whore.”
I didn’t know what to do or say and so I just said, “Well maybe if you’d use a condom OR here’s an idea: do not have sex PERIOD, you’ll have nothing to worry about!”
Instantly I feared that I’d be fired for my lack of compassion toward this “customer” but my manager was too stunned by the conversation to begin with (she had picked up the call to listen in as I explained our coverages) that she told me what I did was the not the correct thing, but that she wouldn’t have been able to handle it any better.
So now, my poor co-worker is dealing with a caller of the same magnitude. Ugh. I get a sick feeling remembering this topic. But I digress, some people in this world are just not bright! Go figure.
Do people seriously go on vacation just to have sex with prostitutes? Or, unprotected sex in general? I’ve heard of businessmen taking trips to Bangkok (and no pun was intended) because the “street vendors” are amazing (and here I thought they were talking about Thai food), but I never imagined going on a trip to have sexual relations with foreign hookers.
Maybe I’m just too sheltered. My world is too small here in Midwestern America. I don’t even know if we have hookers here. I’ve never seen one. I mean, there were girls I knew who were slutty, but I can’t imagine anyone paying them for sex. Then again, I don’t want to know. This topic is going off course.
I really need to get more sleep and then stuff like this won’t bother me so much. I really hope that the traveler going to Amsterdam is bringing a lot of protection for the “red light” district. Ugh. What a day.
Posted by Dana @ 11:43 AM • Workin' Mama
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June 24th, 2006 at 12:46 PM, Brighton Says:
Oh they do, and HOW! I’ve been to Amsterdam and seen the red light district, the only good thing there is that everyone “working” is tested. As for Vegas, the state of Nevada requires testing as well. Tell travelers of that nature to check into the state or countries requirements for STD testing.
I think I would have lost my job with what I would have said to that man though…
June 24th, 2006 at 12:59 PM, Becca Says:
This story is hilarious, yet disgusting. Some men will do what ever it takes. Really fithy
June 24th, 2006 at 1:02 PM, Dana Says:
I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels icky about these types of calls! Man alive! I’d never imagine some of this stuff!
July 6th, 2006 at 11:25 PM, Ms. Mamma Says:
Pretty bad. But at least he wasn’t in Thailand having sex with children. Things could be worse.