H&M Shop Assistant interview questions

Fast process from phone interview to 1:1 interview. Didn't hear any feedback within the time they said I would so I gave them a follow up phone call. I was told the person who sends the acceptance/rejection emails was not in work. Within not even 10 seconds of hanging up, I received a rejection email off the person I was on the phone with. Why couldn't they have told me on the phone instead of lying?