NO, you cannot have my name!! Wrong number!

Post Reply New Topic

Within the last few years, I have have become a little overprotective about my personal life and my personal data. And what I'm NOT afraid of is someone stealing my identity or running of with my bank account number. Nothing like that. I just don't want anyone knowing anything about me that I'm not willing to devulge myself.

For instance, when someone calls and they've reached me because they misdialed the number they were hoping to reach, when someone asks "Who is this?", I never EVER answer with my name. I respond: "This is 555-7910." Who were you trying to reach?" And the other person responds "Yeah. That's the number I called but who is this???" And I say "This is not the person you were trying to call." And they reply "So this is 555-7910 and you're not (the person's name)???" And I respond "Yes. That is correct. This is 555-7910 and I am not that person."

For some reason, the question "Who is this?" during a phone conversation grates down my spine like fingernails down a chalk board. It's not that I have anything to hide. I just like being off the grid, so to speak.

It's just that everyone and every goddamn thing, every governement, your job, stores, websites, restaruant instant win contests ...EVERYTHING just HAS to have have your personal info. Everything in the world has to have their claws in you. They all have to be chained to you. Have their hooks in you. Bleeding you dry. Your name is in every database on the face of the Earth.

So when it comes to someone asking ME who I am when I'm on the the phone I own and a number that is assigned to ME, I think I have a right to tell someone that the number they dialed is correct but that number no longer belongs to the previous customer who used it. Sure, it'd be a lot easier to just have this conversation:

"Can I speak to Wendy?"

"I'm sorry, you have the wrong number."

"This is 555.7910 isn't it?

"Yes it is but that number belongs to me now."

"Who is this??"

"My name is Mark."

"Wendy's not there?"

"No. I'm sorry but there's no one here who lives here by that name."

"Sorry." <click>

I mean, for all they suspect, I'm Wendy's pool cleaner and we're having an affair while Wendy's husband is away. (What pool cleaner is stupid enough to answer someone else's phone...?) But I just won't come off telling everyone my name every time gets my number isntead of the right recipient.

Sure, stuff like warranties, bank loans, credit cards, contracts and the like can all have my detailed personal info. But when it's a wrong number or some bill collector hounding the number of it's previous number - you all can rot in hell for all I'm concerned. I will confirm that you either dialed or misdialed the number you think you were dialing. But I'm not going to divulge my whole damn history to every person who wants to know who this other person on the other side of the line is.

Is that so wrong?

I just want to maintain what little sliver of privacy that still belongs to me.

...You're acting as if even your first name can be used against you. You can say stuff like your name and stuff...But don't go too far.

There was this woman who kept on calling the member's phone at my clubhouse, yesterday evening. She kept asking if my name was Kat. I kept saying that she had the wrong number.

yeah I'm kind of paranoid like that too.

Nice to know someone else feels a little bit like I do.

It's not that I'm paranoid to the point where I think there are invisible ninjas stalking me. But like I said, I want to maintain what itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny sliver of privacy that still belongs to me.

I just won't answer the phone full stop. Not after some woman from BT tried to sell me something and mistook me to be my own mums husband

Why can't we just all use e-mail these days and forget phones?

Because even with the Internet being so popular these days, not everyone has the blessing of a computer with Internet in their homes. Heck, only the staff at the group home can go on the computer at "home"!

what also possibly could have happened was the caller maybe misdialed the area code (if in usa) this has happened many times to me, few people wanting me to help then get otu of jail, some think im a recycling company or sanitation, also one from walmart thinking i was plano fishing tackle company, also for about 6 months last year i have had calls from a family (varius members of the family) calling sayingthings like your invited come to (blah blah) tehy were nice though and then started paying more attention and slowed down when dialling the phone.

Stupid advertising calls. I only say what needs to be said.

markaudette ducks.

FWOOSH!!

(What was that???)

Hey, at least I haven't pulled out my tin foil hat yet!

I'm just a little down that everyone and everything on this damn planet has to have their hooks in you. It makes me a little sad that no one will just leave you be.

I get that question sometimes too.
I just reply" you should know who I am-you called me.

A little rude perhaps,but it annoys me.

Yeah i'll say.. they are like, who is this... is this (insert number)?

Why don't they take the hint when you tell them wrong number? Sometimes they just keep bugging you.