You assume that is how he asked. I know he describes it as politely but he might consider a polite request as 'Please use the headset." Repeated, even after being told no, possibly with explanation that he can't understand him due to his accent instead of comment on the quality of the speaker phone.
My point isn't that either of these straw man situations happened, its that any of a wealth of possible scenarios are possible given the extremely vague details given by the interviewee it is easy to see many different interpretations by the parties involved as reasonable.
My point isn't that either of these straw man situations happened, its that any of a wealth of possible scenarios are possible given the extremely vague details given by the interviewee it is easy to see many different interpretations by the parties involved as reasonable.