Answering the phone with your phone number

Archeron · 20-09-2006 09:00AM

Duff Man Jr. wrote:

My work number is the same as a hotel in Galway except for the area code, lodsa fun.

Ha! I thought i was alone on that. My office number is the same as a hotel in Limerick except for the area code. Its funny, when i'm in work, I pick up the phone and answer by saying, "good morning, state company name, state my name" and people always say, "yeah, is that such a hotel?"
What the hell do you think? That we like to confuse our guests by answering the phone with a different company name?" And then a lot of them get snotty when I tell them that I cant put them through to the right number!!

Hello. John speaking.
Hello, is that Mary?
Yes, I just call myself John to try and confuse stalkers. How can I help?

whiskeyman · 20-09-2006 09:05AM

In Chief Wiggum voice:

"No, you've got the wrong number.... this is 912".

Used to answer the home phone the whole time with the number as a kid though.
Another ever answer it with their surname residence?
eg - "Hello, the Smith household".... or something similar?

20-09-2006 10:06AM

stipey wrote:

my old man often answer's the phone as follows...

... ring... ring...
Dad: Hi, is Dave there?
Caller: (after a confused pause) Who?
Dad: I'm looking for Dave - is he about?
Caller: Um... I'm afraid you have the wrong number.
Dad: Oh! Sorry for disturbing you.
Caller: That's ok - byt
Dad: Bye

cue caller calling back in 30 seconds after realising that they were making the call.

That's brilliant

greenkittie · 20-09-2006 10:07AM

monkeyfudge wrote:

Wrong numbers are fairly rare

Hmm not really, my parents house in belfast gets at least two a week. Think our number is similar to quite a few taxi/service numbers in the area.

grumpytrousers · 20-09-2006 11:01AM

ned78 wrote:

Isn't Mr. Burns' quote from The Simpsons "Ahoy-hoy"?

It is indeed. And of course the history of that is grounded back in the day when Edison and Graham-bell for fighting for superiority of phone systems; think PC v Mac but with a lot more facial hair and in black and white.

See Bell wanted people to answer the phone by saying "ahoy hoy" or simply "ahoy". Back then, people didn't greet each other by saying the generic "hello", they would say "good morning, good evening, good afternoon, good day...whatever". Becuase those words would take to long to say, i presume, they wanted something short and snappy, and he thought he was on to a winner with (the previously nautical) "ahoy"...I suppose the phrase back then was "good evening sailor"

Edison, being more of a "'let's-have-something-new" kind of chap, reckoned that they should use a different word and "hello" seemed to fit the bill. I'm not sure did he make up the word or not...some say he did, others not so sure...but dammit, how smug must he have been, gramaphones, lightbulbs and the word hello...

anyway - i STILL answer the phone at home with the last 5 digits of the number. I guess force of habit. I'd feel like a clown saying "the trousers residence" and I don't like saying Hello as an opening gambit. (Or "ahoy hoy" for that matter.)

Another reason is that my number is rather similar to the local chinese restaurant, so one likes to clear up misunderstandings before I'm saddled with an order for 3 fried rice, a Subgum Egg Foo Young, Beef with Ginger and Spring Onions and a spring roll...

Siogfinsceal · 20-09-2006 11:32AM

i always found it so strange that people did that, it now seems to be restricted to oul ones or Hyacinth Boquet types.

Siogfinsceal · 20-09-2006 11:47AM

i always found it so strange that people did that, it now seems to be restricted to oul ones or Hyacinth Boquet types.

Cutie18Ireland · 20-09-2006 11:58AM

Lots of people do this! confuses me tbh!

SingingCherry · 20-09-2006 12:05PM

Dylan_James wrote:

they have replaced that with ahoy-ahoy! which is clever..... cos they seen it on the simpsons......

in american tv shows they never say goodbye or talk to you later even when they are on the phone. most of the time they just hang up? any americans here want to say if this is true?

No, Americans say "goodbye" when hanging up the phone. I always found it weird and rude that they don't in TV shows. They also rarely go to the bathroom in TV shows, so we really can't base reality on it, can we?

As for the phone number thing... I have never ever heard of that!

tbh · 20-09-2006 12:17PM

I still answer my phone with "I listen to the red hot sounds of sunshine 101". you won't catch me out!!

jasonb · 20-09-2006 12:28PM

tbh wrote:

I still answer my phone with "I listen to the red hot sounds of sunshine 101". you won't catch me out!!

Heh heh... Ah, the memories...

My direct dial in work is very similar to Sky Digital's Prem Plus phone number, if you leave out the 00 ( as Sky's number starts with 0044 for the UK ). So, I always get people ringing me, looking for Prem Plus, and I've yet to have the heart to ask them why they just decided to ignore the 00 at the start of the number they rang.

Last year I came into work on a Monday, to find over 40 voicemail with people leaving message looking for Prem Plus. Some of them were very rude, with foul language, wondering why they couldn't get the game. The Merseyside Derby had been on Prem Plus that weekend...

J.

Lust4Life · 20-09-2006 12:29PM

Posted by Dylan_James
in american tv shows they never say goodbye or talk to you later even when they are on the phone. most of the time they just hang up? any americans here want to say if this is true?

i think they omit that from shoes to keep from being redundant.

Americans do end their calls properly.

I have a friend who ends every call with "Bye, Soon!" Which is short for "Good Bye, See You Soon!" I think that's kind of cute!

Suaimhneach · 20-09-2006 12:31PM

I do surveys for work and a lot of people, mainly in the country, still do it. Its just a regular thing to answer it there or on the answering machine rather than saying who you are.

Not so unusual or out of "fashion"

dabbler2004 · 20-09-2006 12:40PM

No have never answered the phone with my number...although maybe I should; my number is very similar to a local hospital and I get calls asking to be put through to Dr. whoever. Elderly people leave messages in my mail box explaining all about their conditions, tis a bit sad really I suppose I should ring them back but I haven't the heart to tell them I know all about their medical/mental history.

Bogus · 20-09-2006 12:49PM

Some old boy in England, years ago, had just had a phone installed for the first time. When he rang my office, he introduced himself as "23478 here, can I speak to Frank?"

Papillon87 · 20-09-2006 04:26PM

My friend's dad answers the phone with a "hello" followed by their telephone number. Has been doin it for as long as I've known her (6 years).I think it's really odd! She gets a good slagging over it!

Most embarrassing phone answering moment to date: was on the phone to a friend and she said she had to hang up but would ring me back in literally two seconds. Phone rings, I answer with "Peace and love to you whoever you are" (a private joke between us) and this man at the other end asks for my Dad!!!!!!!!! :eek:

Peteee · 20-09-2006 04:51PM

grumpytrousers wrote:

It is indeed. And of course the history of that is grounded back in the day when Edison and Graham-bell for fighting for superiority of phone systems; think PC v Mac but with a lot more facial hair and in black and white.

See Bell wanted people to answer the phone by saying "ahoy hoy" or simply "ahoy". Back then, people didn't greet each other by saying the generic "hello", they would say "good morning, good evening, good afternoon, good day...whatever". Becuase those words would take to long to say, i presume, they wanted something short and snappy, and he thought he was on to a winner with (the previously nautical) "ahoy"...I suppose the phrase back then was "good evening sailor"

Edison, being more of a "'let's-have-something-new" kind of chap, reckoned that they should use a different word and "hello" seemed to fit the bill. I'm not sure did he make up the word or not...some say he did, others not so sure...but dammit, how smug must he have been, gramaphones, lightbulbs and the word hello...

This amazingly enough, is true!

As for teh aforemented topic, My granny answers her phone like that. Never heard anyone else use it though

Miss Fluff · 20-09-2006 05:12PM

zuutroy wrote:

i.e. "ring, ring.............Hello 4536756........." (thats a makey-up number btw).

Really in need of some late-afternoon childish titillation at work so just phoned it. It's not a makey-up number. They didn't answer though so I don't know if they DO say Hello 4536756........." Can keep trying

Tar.Aldarion · 20-09-2006 06:09PM

I have never heard of this, it sounds quite odd to me. My parents and grandparents never did it to my knowledge.

Feral Mutant · 20-09-2006 07:47PM

I don't do it because if I call someone, I'll recognise their voice or ask if it's them. The number would be no help cause I don't remember anyone's numbers except my own. They're all stored in my phone.

the Shades wrote:

I think eircom ran a thing in their phone books advising people not to give out their phone number when answering the phone because it was a security risk in case of prank calls or something like that.

Er if someone calls you they'll already have your number. What's there risk of?

angelbaby · 20-09-2006 07:58PM

I always found that starnge.my aunt does that all the time!!

abetarrush · 20-09-2006 08:04PM

I answer WHA

Capt'n Midnight · 20-09-2006 08:16PM

"Hello is that Cork double 3 double 3,"

"No It's Cork 3, Treble 3."

"Oh sorry wrong number,"

"That's ok the phone was ringing anyway."

monkeyfudge · 20-09-2006 09:24PM

abetarrush wrote:

I answer WHA

I used to do graphic design for a shop in Blanchardstown called 'What' and they'd answer the phone with 'Hello, What!' It sounded terribly rude... I wonder if they're still in business.

NeMiSiS · 21-09-2006 01:17AM

Yeh.. it's great when people anwser the phone and say 'oh this is so and so chinese what do you want..?' real ****ing funny. You wanna reach down the phone pull there toungue out of their head, nail it to the wall, and tight rope walk it with shoes covered in barbed wire.
My bosses duaghter anwser 'hello - phone number - her name speaking - how can i help you' it's truely odd.. I generally end my calls with 'Cheery bye byes!'.
Or ' I want to be removed from whatever database it was you got my number from, thanks very much'

TK

monkeyfudge · 21-09-2006 01:21AM

NeMiSiS wrote:

Yeh.. it's great when people anwser the phone and say 'oh this is so and so chinese what do you want..?' real ****ing funny. You wanna reach down the phone pull there toungue out of their head, nail it to the wall, and tight rope walk it with shoes covered in barbed wire.

What do you want a Chinese takeaway to say to you then?

Dave! · 21-09-2006 01:35AM

No I don't do that, never have.

It's always "ello?" or "ahoy hoy"

NeMiSiS · 21-09-2006 01:44AM

What do you want a Chinese takeaway to say to you then? - something along the lines of " All our waitresses give massages on the side.. for a price"

TK

Jack B. Badd · 21-09-2006 09:08AM

Caller ID killed my dog

It occurs to me that I shouldn't be allowed to be online this early in the morning...

Answering the phone with your phone number

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