Wrong Number

[JackofDiamonds]

You've called and left a voicemail to let me know that you're not going to meet me at my house because traffic is too bad on Lindbergh. We're just going to meet at 6:30, so don't wait for you here. You sound like you're 80. I live in Boston and have no idea who you are. You have the wrong number. Now I have to call back to explain to you that you called the wrong number because I want to make sure you don't have a misunderstanding for your plans tonight and get into an argument with your friend and you never speak to each other again because you are very, very old and statistically speaking, likely to die any day now. I can't rest with that guilt.

So I call, and you are confused and concerned because a man you don't know just called you about your plans. Why am I listening to your calls?! Who am I?! Ma'am... ma'am please, I just wanted to let you know that you dialed a wrong number. A wrong number. No, that's not my phone number. Yes, okay, I am sure that's what you dialed, but it went to my voicemail. Okay... yes... yes... I... yes... okay but... I have to go now. Good luck tonight, stay off Lindbergh. I know, it can be really bad at that time of day. Yes... ... ... byyyyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeee.

[Radbird]

More compassion is needed in today's society for the dialing impaired.

[JackofDiamonds]

I called her back to tell her! I had this image of her waiting alone at wherever they were meeting at 6:30, and her friend sitting waiting, growing angrier as the caller never shows up at the first meet-up point, then concerned about her friend not being there and wondering if she's okay.

[cardinalkarp]

You tried.

[mikechamp]

I would have answered the phone in the 1st place.

Snob.

[KyCardinalFan]

I have had to do this a few times. I call them, tell them a message they left was a wrong number. Usually they are appreciative. But then, I don't have a crazy, stalker man-voice.

I once had a doctor's office call me and left a message for someone to have a test scheduled. I couldn't comprehend the name they called for. Calling a doctor's office answering system is usually a pain anyway; then I had to try to explain to their voice mail that they left a wrong message for a number like mine and called at about such-and-such time. I assume all turned out okay.

[JackofDiamonds]

I have had to do this a few times. I call them, tell them a message they left was a wrong number. Usually they are appreciative. But then, I don't have a crazy, stalker man-voice.

I once had a doctor's office call me and left a message for someone to have a test scheduled. I couldn't comprehend the name they called for. Calling a doctor's office answering system is usually a pain anyway; then I had to try to explain to their voice mail that they left a wrong message for a number like mine and called at about such-and-such time. I assume all turned out okay.

1) I don't have a crazy, stalker man-voice. I have a sophisticated, stalker man-voice.
2) That person is dead and you killed him.

[jim]

My wife got a wrong number at work a month ago and ended up calling the police (or 911?) because the women was trying to get ahold of the domestic abuse hotline or something and left a message (native Spanish speaking women, didn't understand she had reached a bank). Sounded like some [expletive] was going to hit the fan when hubby got home.

[Mary1966]

When I got my current cell phone in 2011, I started getting calls for "Stephanie." I assumed that my number had previously been used and ignored them. Most of the time it's solicitors. She also gets a lot of text messages from solicitors. But one day, I got a voice mail from a real person, saying she wanted to meet Stephanie that evening. I did call back on that one, and left a message saying that Stephanie was no longer at this number, just because I also had visions of this person waiting for her friend. Since then, the Stephanie calls have come and gone. I added a message to my voice mail saying if the person was calling for Stephanie she was no longer at this number. But there are many robocalls from solicitors that of course ignore that.