What is the normal response if you dial a wrong number?

Question

I was trying to call my wife, and accidentally dialed a different area code. Of course, when I realized it I immediately hung up the phone. Almost immediately, I received a call back, apparently from the number I dialed. He sounded in such a bad mood, and practically scolded me on the phone and called me names that I can't post here. I don't know him, but I sincerely apologized and tried to explain to him what happened. Of course, he was not hearing any of it, and decided to go on this tyrade. I hung up on him, and he called several more times.

How do I deal with a moron like this? I have some ideas, but I want to know if anyone else has gone through this. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Not that this justifies my "rude" action, but I hung up before the phone rang on the other side (or I thought I did). Once I pressed SEND on my phone, I saw that I dialed the wrong area code. So I immediately hung up before the phone even rang on the other side. Of course, this doesn't mean that I hung up before the phone actually rang.

And he just called, yet again. I tried to explain to him that I didn't mean for the apparent "crank call" and that I thought I hung up before the phone rang. I was trying to save him the nuisance of having to answer the call of a wrong number, and apologized sincerely and repeatedly.

I have to share this: One of his nonsensical retorts was was a long rant that I interpreted to be something about wasting his precious minutes (I am assuming cell phone minutes), when he is the one making the calls back. In fact, I was the one trying to save him his minutes by hanging up before the phone rang.

Answer 1

That guy was really RUDE! Meanwhile, maybe this will help you smile...
This may be helpful to some staff in product reliability.

Anger Management

When you occasionally have a really bad day, and you just need to take it out on someone, don't take it out on someone you know, take it out on someone you don't know.

I was sitting at my desk when I remembered a phone call I'd forgotten to make. I found the number and dialed it. A man answered, saying "Hello." I politely said, "This is Chris. Could I please speak with Robyn Carter?"

Suddenly a manic voice yelled out in my ear "Get the right freakin? number!" and the phone was slammed down on me. I couldn't believe that anyone could be so rude. When I tracked down Robyn's correct number to call her, I found that I had accidentally transposed the last two digits.

After hanging up with her, I decided to call the 'wrong' number again.

When the same guy answered the phone, I yelled "You're an a**hole!" and hung up. I wrote his number down with the word a**hole next to it, and put it in my desk drawer. Every couple of weeks, when I was paying bills or had a really bad day, I'd call him up and yell, " You're an a**hole!" It always cheered me up.

When Caller ID was introduced, I thought my therapeutic a**hole
calling would have to stop.



So, I called his number and said, "Hi, this is John Smith from the Telephone Company. I'm calling to see if You're familiar with our Caller ID Program?"

He yelled "NO!" and slammed down the phone.

I quickly called him back and said, "That's because you're an a**hole!"

One day I was at the store, getting ready to pull into a parking spot. Some guy in a black BMW cut me off and pulled into the spot I had patiently waited for. I hit the horn and yelled that I'd been waiting for that spot, but the idiot ignored me. I noticed a "For Sale" sign in his back window, so I wrote down his number.



A couple of days later, right after calling the first a**hole (by this time I had his number on speed dial,) I thought that I'd better call the BMW a**hole, too. I said, "Is this the man with the black BMW for sale?"

"Yes, it is", he said. "Can you tell me where I can see it?" I asked.

"Yes, I live at 34 Mowbray Blvd, in Vaucluse. It's a yellow house, and the car's parked right out in front."

"What's your name?" I asked.

"My name is Don Hansen," he said.

"When's a good time to catch you, Don?"

"I'm home every evening after five."

"Listen, Don, can I tell you something?"

"Yes?"

"Don, you're an a**hole!" Then I hung up, and added his number to my speed dial, too.

Now, when I had a problem, I had two a**holes to call. Then I came up with an idea. I called A**hole #1.

"Hello."

"You're an a**hole!" (But I didn't hang up.)

"Are you still there?" he asked.

"Yeah," I said. "Stop calling me," he screamed.

"Make me," I said.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"My name is Don Hansen."

"Yeah? Where do you live?"

"A**hole, I live at 34 Mowbray Blvd, Vaucluse, a yellow house, with my black Beamer parked in front."

He said, "I'm coming over right now, Don. And you had better start saying your prayers."

I said, "Yeah, like I'm really scared, a**hole," and hung up.

Then I called A**hole #2. "Hello?" he said.

"Hello, a**hole," I said.

He yelled, "If I ever find out who you are..."

"You'll what?" I said.

"I'll kick your a**," he exclaimed.

I answered, "Well, a**hole, here's your chance. I'm coming over right now."

Then I hung up and immediately called the police, saying that I lived at 34 Mowbray Blvd, Vaucluse, and that I was on my way home to kill my gay lover. Then I called Channel 9 News about the gang war going down in Mowbray Blvd, Vaucluse.

I quickly got into my car and headed over to Mowbray. I got there just in time to watch two a**holes beating the crap out of each other in front of six cop cars, an overhead police helicopter and a news crew.

NOW I feel much better.

Anger management really works...

Answer 2

Hi there,

How unfortunate that somebody could be so rude and unforgiving for an honest mistake--he must be a very miserable and bored person--poor thing.

Anyhow, I believe that if you make your phone number private, your phone number won't show up on anyone's caller ID. Also you can specifically block someones phone number by contacting your phone company; I think it costs a few dollars a month but it's worth it if this person continues on his ridiculous tirade.

When I call a wrong number, I know almost immediately know I've done so based on the voice I hear so I do this: I say "Oh I'm sorry I've dialed the wrong number. I apologize." For the most part, my apology is accepted and it ends just like that. I mean after all, it is an honest mistake.

Answer 3

There is no right or wrong way to deal with someone who has issues that go beyond your mistaken phone dialing. You did what most people do when they dial an incorrect number. You have apologized to this man who keeps calling you. Now, if this was happening to me, I would call the police! He has now become a stalker. I don't want to sound over reactive but, how many times has this person called you? Obviously no amount of phone etiquette or manners will make a difference at this point. You can call the phone company and they can have the mans phone number traced and eliminated from your phone line. But, this has happened to me and the phone company can help. They will have you do a couple of different things that only take a moment of your time but can eliminate the problem. Good luck and be safe!

Answer 4

With the technology of today, it's much safer to not hang up without apologizing for dialing incorrectly. It is still much kinder to say I'm sorry and admit a mistake, & that shows the person on the other end of the line that you are taking responsibility for the error & that you also care enough to apologize for wasting their time. It also can help stop an extremely adverse reaction created by suspicious, or hostile, emotions.

If he continues to call you back, then call your carrier and ask them to block his phone number. If he stops, then you won't have to go to the trouble. To call him back and explain again would only exacerbate the situation.

Answer 5

This has so happened to me. These people must have no life at all. Other than saying it was a mistake, and that you thought you were hanging up before anyone was bothered on his end, there isn't much you can do.

The last time I did this, I got a hysterical woman convinced I was cheating with her husband! She kept asking who I was! I even told her that I dialed the 1st 3 #'s of my home # & the last 4 of my work. When she didn't calm down, I did the same thing you did.

If they persist calling, consult your telephone company and local police department about harassment.

Argh.

Answer 6

This is such a sad story. My mom is really rude when she gets a wrong number on her cell phone, I yell at her all the time (she never calls anyone back, she's just really rude), so on behalf of the children of rude people, I would like to apologize. I kinda have a similar situation except I'm the one receiving the wrong numbers and the person won't leave me alone now. I get text messages and phone calls all hours of the day, the other night my husband finally answered the call and the guy hung up. Just ignore the guy. We found out that our cell phone company won't block a number from calling and it's like $40 to change your number, but what a hassle. Good luck with the nasty guy, hey, if he hangs up on you, call him back and yell at him for hanging up on you and wasting YOUR minutes.

Answer 7

Wow. I feel for you!

I have to say that I find it ironic that the people who are the "busiest" and "can't afford to waste their time" on "trivial things" are often the ones who have the most free time to **TELL** people how "busy" they are. This guy sounds like he really doesn't have anything better to do.

Truthfully, just ignore him. Let the machine or your voicemail get it. Every time you answer, you're going to get a rise out of him, and give him the attention he's obviously craving.

As for when I personally dial a wrong number, I'll wait for the party to answer, ask for who I was calling, and then when they tell me I have the wrong number, I'll say "I'm so sorry. Please excuse the interruption." I don't know why I wait - even when I know the number is wrong. I guess I feel compelled to apologize...

Answer 8

In response to your first question:
You should stay on the phone and say "I'm sorry; I Think I have the wrong number." Then simply hang up.

In response to the second question:

Call the phone company and complain that the guy called you several times and threatened you. Give them the exact time he called. Then have the company put a block on your phone so he can't call you again. If the Customer service operator says (s)he can't, ask to speak to the supervisor. Yes, they can black the guy from calling. Good luck.

Answer 9

As you sincerely tried to hang up immediately before pickup you should not have been berated.

If I get a wrong number I apologize and hang up. It happens.

This guy sounds like a psycho- lucky you! Don't react and he should give up soon. If he calls again just say "sorry you have the wrong number" and hang up. Repeat as needed. He will get bored and move on to hassling telemarketing companies or some other such inane thing.

Answer 10

Oh dear, of all the wrong numbers in the whole wide world to dial, and you end up with the nutter of the year.
That's it, he's a nutter. Treat him as such and ignore the incident. If he persists, call the phone company and log him as a nuisance caller, and they will block his calls.

Answer 11

When I realize I have the wrong number I say "I'm sorry to have bothered you I must have dialed the wrong number." It is very rude to hang up on people and it scares people.