Wrong Number etiquette

surfpirate · Post by **surfpirate** » November 2, 2007 4:22 pm

This is beginning to get on my nerves. One of my biggest pet peeves are idiots who misdial their number and reach me ..... and then are rude and disrespectful like its somehow my fault I answered the phone.

Makes me really appreciate the far too few polite callers who apologize for disturbing me, introduce themselves and then politely ask if they dialed the right number (they've usually just missed by transposing a digit somewhere).

To make matters worse, most of the wrong numbers I get are from people misdialing and reaching one of my toll free numbers. Each wrong number costs me a few cents for their mistakes.

I've started saving the caller ID numbers in my phone and labeling them so I can spot repeat offenders and I'm prepared when I answer the phone. There is one idiot somewhere in the 802 area code that keeps trying to reach "the racetrack". Obviously "the racetrack" has a toll free number close to one of mine. This idiot curses me every time he realizes he has misdialed. He's called me by mistake over a dozen times in the past 2 months. As soon as I learn what racetrack he is trying to reach I am going to start answering the phone "XYZ Racetracks, How may I direct your call?" or something, then ..... well ...... I haven't thought it out that far yet.

~~~~ surfpirate

I'm an Altered Boy · Post by **I'm an Altered Boy** » November 2, 2007 4:25 pm

I always politely apologize. I get a kick out of the people who argue with you that they called the right number

SharkOnLand · Post by **SharkOnLand** » November 2, 2007 4:27 pm

Where's the option for: "I'm perfect, and never make a simple mistake like calling the wrong number."?

mjeischen · Post by **mjeischen** » November 2, 2007 4:30 pm

I call the same friends and if I misdial I recognize the voice or not. I'll apologize and tell them to have a good day weekend whatever.

Chit Happens.

Alan11 · Post by **Alan11** » November 2, 2007 4:43 pm

I have had the same woman call 3 days in a row from 3 different phones with a wrong # assuming I was her husband. She said some very interesting things that I wasn't supposed to hear and yet were quite exciting to listen to

I went along with the joke and said well we just met, let me get to know you a little better first before you do any of those things you told me. Well she pauses for a minute and just erupts in laughter because she is so embarassed. Then she apoligizes for what she said for a good 2 minutes and I told her you were the best wrong # I ever had, please mis dial me again sometime. She laughs again and then hangs up.

Yesterday when she called I joked around with her again and she said thanks for being a good sport for me not knowing how to use a phone.

Conolulu · Post by **Conolulu** » November 2, 2007 4:46 pm

My number is one digit off from the County Jail...

And I always ask, and apologize....

But then, I'm old... that's how I was taught....

12vmanRick · Post by **12vmanRick** » November 2, 2007 6:17 pm

If someone incorrectly dials my number, I am short but not rude
If I incorrectly dial a wrong number I just apologize and say bye

bravedave · Post by **bravedave** » November 2, 2007 6:19 pm

12vmanRick wrote:If someone incorrectly dials my number, I am short but not rude
If I incorrectly dial a wrong number I just apologize and say bye

likewise

brahmafear · Post by **brahmafear** » November 2, 2007 7:30 pm

If I dialed the wrong number then who can I blame but myself? Not the poor schmo that answered his phone, eh?

Big Phan · Post by **Big Phan** » November 2, 2007 7:36 pm

I'll ask for the person I was calling and then apologize if I have the wrong number.

Anyone else have this pet peeve (if you don't have caller ID on a phone)...someone calls you and says, "Your number was on my caller ID" but then won't tell you who they are?

Post by **SMLCHNG** » November 2, 2007 8:42 pm

bravedave wrote:
12vmanRick wrote:If someone incorrectly dials my number, I am short but not rude
If I incorrectly dial a wrong number I just apologize and say bye
likewise

Seconded.

Post by **SMLCHNG** » November 2, 2007 8:44 pm

Big Phan wrote: Anyone else have this pet peeve (if you don't have caller ID on a phone)...someone calls you and says, "Your number was on my caller ID" but then won't tell you who they are?

Uh huh!!

pbans · Post by **pbans** » November 2, 2007 8:47 pm

My standard answer is "Pardon the intrusion, I must have misdialed..." but I don't introduce myself....

aeroparrot · Post by **aeroparrot** » November 2, 2007 9:32 pm

I apologize and then hang up. I try again, and if it is still wrong, I will ask if the person is at the number I thought I dialed.

ph4ever · Post by **ph4ever** » November 2, 2007 10:42 pm

I ask and apologize but I don't want some stranger knowing who I am any more than they probably want me to know who they are.

I also don't give out my number when I get a wrong number call. I attended one of those safety seminars and that was one of the things that was stressed to not do - can't remember why.

spartan1979 · Post by **spartan1979** » November 2, 2007 11:32 pm

I'll say, "I'm sorry, I must have the wrong number." Ocassionally, especially if I get the same wrong number twice in a row, I'll ask "Is this XXX-XXX-XXXX?"

But one time I did this, the lady told me no. So I dialed again and got her again. She lied because she didn't want to give out her number, even though I had just read it off to her.

ph4ever · Post by **ph4ever** » November 3, 2007 12:05 am

spartan1979 wrote:I'll say, "I'm sorry, I must have the wrong number." Ocassionally, especially if I get the same wrong number twice in a row, I'll ask "Is this XXX-XXX-XXXX?"

But one time I did this, the lady told me no. So I dialed again and got her again. She lied because she didn't want to give out her number, even though I had just read it off to her.

if someone happens to ask and give me my number I'll just tell them there's no one here by that name - that we've had the number for several years.

Gypsy In The Palace · November 3, 2007 12:24 am

My favorites are the older people who dial a wrong number and then proceed to tell you their whole life story!

Wino you know · Post by **Wino you know** » November 3, 2007 7:34 am

I'll always apologize & ask if the number I was intending to dial is indeed the number I did dial.
If not, I politely tell them I'm sorry for disturbing them.

Once, while I was living in Memphis, somebody mis-dialed my number.
She asked who I was, when I told her, she said nothing and hung up.
I didn't have caller I.D. at the time, but I did have *69 service (which means the phone will automatically dial the last number that called). So I called her back right away, and when she answered I SLAMMED the phone down.

Then, way back when, when I was living in Hawaii, I had a lady mistakenly call my number, and she didn't hang up right away. As a matter of fact, we talked for about an hour & a half, and had a VERY intresting conversation.
Same thing happened the next couple hundred times she called me on purpose after that.
No, we never met, but.....................................................................................................!
(Her name was Brenda)

Sidew13 · Post by **Sidew13** » November 3, 2007 8:12 am

SMLCHNG wrote:
bravedave wrote:
12vmanRick wrote:If someone incorrectly dials my number, I am short but not rude
If I incorrectly dial a wrong number I just apologize and say bye
likewise
Seconded.

uh Penny?? wouldn't you be THIRD?

I'll be fourth on list

BuffettNews.com

Wrong Number etiquette

When I call the wrong number I ......

Wrong Number etiquette