best way to answer the phone at home?

Question

I have just gotten a new phone number and get alot of calls for a doctors office dentist and other people who just have a wrong number. Whats the best way to answer the phone other than just saying hello? So all these people get it they have a wrong number.

Answer 1

In Germany the norm is just saying your last name.

Answer 2

i can soooooooooooo relate. My number is very close to the highschools. During the school year I get several calls a day asking for the highschool, or someone at the highschool. I also get the occastional "Who is this?", to which I reply " You called my house. Who is this?". Just screen your calls, and let every know you do. Some people don't like machines, but if thier call is important enough they will wait for you to pick up. I wouldn't give out your name, but try something funny like " You have reached 555-5555, this is NOT Dr. So and so's office. If you know who you're calling leave a message, and I will get back to you" You may end up with alot of incomplete messages on your machine, but it's way better then picking up the phone all those times, especially if you are waiting on a call.

Answer 3

What is your last name? Lets just say it is Smith for instance, answer the phone, Smith's residence. People will then know that it is not a business. But be prepared no matter what you say, some people do not listen to a greeting and will still ask when they can see the Dr.

Good luck

Answer 4

Use your last name and the word Residence in your greeting. I'll use Smith as an example.

Say "Hello, this is the Smith residence?" When you say this emphasize the word "residence". Someone making the wrong call will probably apologize and ask for clarification and then you can repeat what you just said.

Also, I would leave something in your voice mail that specifies that they have called the Smith RESIDENCE and to please leave a message (yada yada yada)...

If you have caller ID and you don't recognize a call you can just let your voice mail take care of this problem if you have it set up correctly.

Answer 5

When I moved and got all these calls too I would simply say "I'm sorry that person does not live here anymore they moved so you have the wrong number." If they ask for a forwarding address and you are in an apt. you can easily say "I do not have that information." no need to give your name or you may be put on a list that's your'e private information.

Answer 6

Just say hello. Don't give too much away about yourself. Other than that let your answering machine take it and screen your calls to see if its worth while picking up the phone

Answer 7

Good morning, afternoon, evening, whatever your last name residence. If this problem persists most phone companies will change your phone number for free because of the annoyance and inconvenience the number is causing if you call them.

Answer 8

1) Cough up a few $$$ for caller id
2) Turn on the feature that blocks unknown callers (it's a *xx code on the phone)
3) When the phone rings, look at the id - if you don't know it, don't answer
4) Record on your answering machine: "This is (your phone number here), there is no one here to answer your call. Please leave your name, number and short message after the tone."

Answer 9

say (your name) residence
if the party still insists give them the number to the place they are trying to reach
ive dealt with the same situation many many years and most of the time when i give them the correct number i never hear from them again

Answer 10

If my surname (family name) is Awyong (or something else)...

" Hello, Awyong residence..."