Sorry, wrong number (phone etiquette)

Here’s a little story from my old blog that I felt needed to be here:

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I just got hung up on.

While this was a common occurrence during my dating youth, the frequency has declined markedly since marrying. But this hanger-upper wasn’t an angry woman, but someone who simply dialed the wrong number. Here’s how it went:

*ring ring*

Me: “Dan Furman” (this is how I answer the phone)

Caller: Is Mel there?

Me: Sorry. No Mel here. You must have the wrong number. What num…

Caller: *click*

Me (to myself): …ber were you trying to call… oh well…

Ten seconds later:

*ring ring*

Me: Dan Furman

Caller: Is Mel there?

Me: DON’T HANG UP. No, he isn’t. This is the same number you called ten seconds ago, and if you didn’t hang up so quickly, we would have figured out that you didn’t dial the wrong number, but you are calling the wrong number. I was trying to help you.

Caller: I’m sorry – I was just… I don’t know why I hung up so quick. You’re right, I should have stayed on to figure out which it was. Thanks.

…

I think people hang up so quickly because they are embarrassed. Trust me – there’s no shame in calling a wrong number. There’s no need to abruptly hang up. In fact, it’s rude.

Here’s wrong number etiquette in a nutshell – no matter which side of the conversation you are on, take ten seconds to find out of the wrong number was dialed, or if the caller actually dialed correctly, but has the incorrect number. It makes everyone’s life easier, and saves a repeat performance ten seconds later.

Also, perhaps the person you called has the right number. Perhaps their number is one digit off the number you want, and this happens all the time for them – personally, I get a ton of calls for “mental health” (really), which makes one wonder. 🙂

I’ll finish this on a somewhat related note: why do we still call it “dialing?” I haven’t used a dial phone in perhaps twenty years. Probably the same reason we still “roll down the windows” in a car.