Wrong numbers!!!

[Miss Mary]

I keep getting calls for two other Mary's. I know, what are the odds?

1. First one is for a Mary Wilson, who has an office in my community and works for American Family Insurance. Her clients will call and ask for simply Mary. If my kids answer, they have to come find me. By the time I pick up, the client/customer is very upset. As if to ask - what kind of a business are you running here? LOL They even rattle off important acct. numbers - Visa, SS #, etc.! I have to stop them, whoa, you've got the wrong Mary. Then they become quite indignant with me. Mary Wilson's business # is one digit off mine. I finally looked her up in the phone book and called her one day. Giving her an idea of what's been going on here for a few years now.

Next....

2. I keep getting calls for a Mary McLaughlin. First time was from her child's school nurse. She asked for Mary, telling me my child was sick. I asked which one, nurse said your son! I said I don't have a son, I have two daughters. That was our first clue the school nurse had the wrong #. I pictured that poor child sick at school and the mother could not be reached. Of course they won't tell me where this McLaughlin family lives or anything. That's fine, didn't really want to know. Next the school Principal called once to tell me her child was still at school and latch key was closed now. Would you please come get your child? Again, I had to explain he had the wrong Mary first of all and the wrong number. He proceeded to go thru his school office files and sure enough, this mom gave my home number out for contact. Unbelievable! Today was the last straw and I'd like you all to pray for this or more McLaughlin child(ren). A case worker called - Mary? This is Mrs. so and so, your case worker. I laughed at first and said you know what I get calls all the time for two other Mary's and I'm a Mary! Again, what are the odds? After this case worker and I talked a while and I told her about the past calls from the Principal and school nurse, huge red flags began going up in my head. Now I am very worried about this McLauglin child. I told that case worker to get out her files, copy their address down, get in her car and go over there. For some reason this Mary McLaughlin is giving out my number, not just random bogus numbers, but my number.

Now I'm all worked up! I've tried finding a Mary McLaughin in the Cincinnati area, no luck. Tried finding any McLaughlin with a phone # very similar to mine. No luck.

This is starting to sound very odd.

With all the horrible child abuse stories out there, I'm a little worried now!

Thanks for letting me vent.

Mary

[Skywatch_NC]

Hate to say it, Mary...but you and Jim may need to get your phone # changed.

Eric

[Miss Mary]

Eric - we've had this number for 16 years now! These two separate problems have only been going on for a few years. The one is a business, makes sense, people are hitting the wrong number on the keypad. No biggie. Now I'm just worried about that kid! At one time either the school nurse or principal told me the school's name and now I forget. Wish I could remember, if it was a school near me, I think I'd drive over there right this minute. I think it's very odd that this Mary McLaughlin is giving our my home number for school files and now to a case worker. Can't help but be suspicious now.

Kinda of hoping her kid's school calls soon. I'm going to simply ask which school again, playing dumb.

Well, thanks anyway.

Mary

[GalvestonDuck]

Just yesterday, I got a call for Pauline ____ who used to have the phone number I have now. Apparently, she has a lot of credit problems. That's probably how I got her phone number -- she didn't pay her bill, lost her service, and when I signed up for phone service, her old number was assigned to me.

I don't know this woman and I have never talked to her. But she's getting on my nerves! I tell the callers, "I'm sorry...you have the wrong number." Most hang up. But a few clarify the number - "Is this (phone #)?" I reply that yes it is and I believe it used to be her phone number, but it's mine now and has been for three years.

A few times, it gets really bad.
"Well, do you know her new number?"
"Um, no...I don't know her."
"How long has it been since she moved?"
"Like I said, I don't know her. I don't know where she lives."
"But this was her phone #, right?"
"I guess...I don't know for certain. All I know is that when I called the phone company for service, this is the number I got. And since then, I get calls for her...but I don't know her."
"So, she doesn't live there anymore?"
"She never did live here! She had this phone #, not this address."
"So, you don't know how to reach her?"

(After the third call that pretty much went this same way as above)
"Dude, look, I'm guessing you want money she owes you, right? Well, you're gonna have to do your own digging because 1) I DON'T KNOW HER, and 2)you're harassing me now. I have told you that you have the wrong number. Change your files and do not call this number anymore."



Well, I hope you can get some answers in regards to the McLaughlin clan. Prayers going up for the little ones. Sounds like they need it.

[Miss Mary]

Shawn - yeah, I think those kids need it too. And that's what worries me now.

Didn't retired or old numbers have to retired for something like 7 years? After my dad died, on a whim I tried his number. Don't ask me why but we had that phone number since 1960 and he passed away in 1988. It was only 1 to 2 years after he passed on and someone answered! Couldn't believe our old family # was given out so fast. Sounds as if Pauline's old # was quickly passed on to you now.

I used to work as a Receptionist as you know and nothing irks me more than when someone calls me at home and asks ME questions. What # did I just call....I counter with what # did you want, that annoys them all the time. If the person gives me a really hard time, I explain that this is a home phone number and it's polite etiquette to identify yourself first, not ask questions like - who's this? This isn't a business ya know.....

Try these approaches Shawn - answer their questions with more questions. That'll stop them in their tracks....LOL

Mary

[HurricaneGirl]

I get wrong number calls many times a day. Especially at the beginning of a new job, because our new number is always somebody's old one.

Every day I get calls from people asking for the owner of the business. Of course the owner isn't here because it's a jobsite. Sometimes I say he's on a 3 month fishing trip or I tell them I am the owner just so I can mess with them. Most often it is someone trying to sell insurance to small businesses.

The last jobsite number I had was the old number to a fish market. I used to have fun with that one!

[CajunMama]

My work number is one digit off from an attorneys office. I can always tell when new bankruptcy papers go out. I answer the phone with my company name, XYZ Company and invariably i get "is this the attorneys office?". Well, duh...if it was wouldn't I have answered the phone, "Joe Blow Attorneys office"!If they'd listen when I answer the phone they could just politely say, "Excuse me but I have the wrong number".

I do hope that the McLaughlin kids end up ok with a mother like that.

[Cookiely]

Several years ago we solved all telephone problems. I detest solicitors. Its an invasion of my privacy to call me unsolicited. We got an answering machine. The first message I posted went something like - this is cookie - we will pick up for friends and family. One time the telephone man announced himself and said he hoped he was a friend and was calling to confirm for the appointment for installation. I finally got rid of all the nuisance calls with the satellite people by paying the ten dollars to the Ag department to put us on the do not solicit list. They used to take up the whole tape with their nonsense.

[therock1811]

Just to add first something serious to this...when I first got my cell number, I got calls for a lady named Barbara. I had to tell them not to call me anymore because they had the wrong number. I sure hope that/those kid(s) is/are okay.

And a little humor...the whole thing reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Kramer's number is one digit off of the number for Moviefone.

[Miss Mary]

Just to add first something serious to this...when I first got my cell number, I got calls for a lady named Barbara. I had to tell them not to call me anymore because they had the wrong number. I sure hope that/those kid(s) is/are okay.

And a little humor...the whole thing reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Kramer's number is one digit off of the number for Moviefone.

I remember that show. Didn't Kramer start doing movie synopsis? And didn't Jerry call that # once, getting Kramer instead and ask at the end of the summary - Kramer, is that you? LOL

Mary

[therock1811]

He sure did! LOL I love the show!

[Dee Bee]

Mary, if the school ever calls again, remind them that they have a legal responsibility to report suspected child neglect (leaving a child stranded at school is certainly neglect) and should call the local police or state/county department of child & family services. I, too, would be worried for that child.

I've had my share of annoying consistent wrong numbers, as well. When we first married in '73, the yellow pages misprinted a nearby pizza place -- to our number, of course. We were without an answering machine (and the era was pre-voicemail). After a while, my husband just started taking pizza orders, usually also telling the caller about a bogus, ridiculously low special price....

The number for our current house is only one digit off from a local pharmacy. The pharmacy's number contains an "8" in the same place our number has a "3." After nearly hourly calls for several days, I called the pharmacy. Apparently, the prescription labels were misprinted with our number! But even after that finally was resolved (after initially having to deal with an incredibly arrogant pharmacy person, I might add), we still occasionally receive pharmacy calls, particularly from seniors who misread the number. The Midwestern roots in me find it amazing how many callers can be so indignant and rude. Sometimes, however, I feel sorry -- one very courteous older gentleman called me three times in a row. (I finally kindly suggested he call his physician's office and have them call the pharmacy.)

Lately, every couple of weeks, we've been getting at least one phone call between ~8 and 10 which turns out to be a fax. That's extra annoying because there's no one on the other end to talk to!



P.S.I'd almost forgotten that Seinfeld episode, therock1811 -- thanks for the smile!

[therock1811]

No problem Dee Bee.

[ColdFront77]

We get a lot of wrong numbers here, too. Perhaps because the older folk can't see the numbers they're dialing to well.

Please understand, I mean no disrepect, especially beings that my parents are elderly.

[Miss Mary]

Tom - misdialing isn't only a senior problem. Anyone can do it, I've done it! We have a 4 in our phone #, but callers are supposed to hitting the 7 instead, for the insurance office that I get umpteen calls for. And I have to say yet again, you need to dial 555-5555, not my number, which of course they want to reveal. Never reveal your number if someone has called you accidentally.

Innocent wrong numbers I'm fine with.

I'm just worried about those kids, since I've now had at least 3 calls for their mother over the past year. Next time someone calls for her, I'm going to do my own investigating.

Mary

[ColdFront77]

That's absolutely right, Mary.

I am giving that as an example because I live in a retirement community. Easily over 75% of the population of my town is over the age of 55.

[george_r_1961]

Hate to say it, Mary...but you and Jim may need to get your phone # changed.

Eric

She could also change her name

[Miss Mary]

Hate to say it, Mary...but you and Jim may need to get your phone # changed.

Eric

She could also change her name

Thanks George, for seeing the point I was trying to make....that's what is so ironic here. I get wrong #'s all the time for TWO other Mary's! What are the odds of that happening. They're probably both Baby Boomers, like I am. When I went to HS, if someone called out "Mary?", ten of us turned around. I was surrounded with Mary Ann's (I'm a Mary Anne, technically), Mary Sue, Mary Kate, Mary Theresa, on and on. My mom had a friend with 13 children. She named all the girls Mary something and the boys Marian something. All her children went by their middle names.

Well, those are my "Mary Stories" of the day! And I now have two Mary's here at S2K - just don't call my # Mrs. Rob and/or HG.....just kidding.....

Mary

[Dee Bee]

Hate to say it, Mary...but you and Jim may need to get your phone # changed.

Eric

She could also change her name

Thanks George, for seeing the point I was trying to make....that's what is so ironic here. I get wrong #'s all the time for TWO other Mary's! What are the odds of that happening. They're probably both Baby Boomers, like I am. When I went to HS, if someone called out "Mary?", ten of us turned around. I was surrounded with Mary Ann's (I'm a Mary Anne, technically), Mary Sue, Mary Kate, Mary Theresa, on and on. My mom had a friend with 13 children. She named all the girls Mary something and the boys Marian something. All her children went by their middle names.

Well, those are my "Mary Stories" of the day! And I now have two Mary's here at S2K - just don't call my # Mrs. Rob and/or HG.....just kidding.....

Mary

Miss Mary -- Are/were you Roman Catholic, by any chance? The "Mary +" names seemed to be very popular in Catholic families up through the 50's-early 60's. Also, most orders of nuns then took names that began "Sister Mary ...." I always wondered about a connection there.

[GalvestonDuck]

Miss Mary -- Are/were you Roman Catholic, by any chance? The "Mary +" names seemed to be very popular in Catholic families up through the 50's-early 60's. Also, most orders of nuns then took names that began "Sister Mary ...." I always wondered about a connection there.

Yup, she is.

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