Anybody ever get a phone call like this?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

About 9:30 this morning, I got an automated phone call asking for (Somebody Who Isn't Me). It went something like this, "This is a phone call for (Somebody Who Isn't Me). If you are (Somebody Who Isn't Me), please press '1' now. If you would like to be put on hold so that you can summon (Somebody Who Isn't Me) to the phone, please press '2' now."

I waited for the next option, which should have been "If you have received this call in error, please press '3.'"

But it never came. Instead, the recorded voice repeated options 1 and 2 over and over.

I kept pushing 0 to try to get to a real person, but I was stuck in a loop. Finally, the voice said, if you have questions about this call, please phone 1-800-xxx-xxxx. Once again, that's 1-800-xxx-xxxx."

So I wrote the number down and dialed it, and I got the message, "You have reached a number that is no longer in service."

Oh, and yesterday, I got a recorded phone message telling me that Americans need to exercise three times a week.

Has anyone else gotten calls like these? Is this a new form of phone prank?

[no name no slogan]

1. Wow, that's strange

I haven't gotten any of those before. Sounds like a bad telemarketing call.

How're you doing, Lydia? :hi:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

2. Fine, swamped with work...

which is GOOOOD!

Because I have big travel plans for this summer! :7

Japan (partly subsidized) and England!

How about yourself?

[no name no slogan]

5. Wow, that sounds like fun!

Did I ever tell you I used to live in England? I wouldn't mind doing that again if the opportunity presented itself. Japan will be a lot of fun-- I've never been but eventually I'll make it there.

Yeah, I just had a big project dumped on me this week which will keep my nose out of trouble for a month, at least. Our training materials for our system are in terrible shape, and because I have a little experience with curriculum design it became my job to rewrite them. In the next two weeks. Oh joy! :dunce:

Glad to hear you're doing swell! :D

[NV Whino]

3. Tell agent Mike

to hang up and get a life.

[1gobluedem]

4. I did

I got three messages in a row, for three different names, none of which was mine, asking for blood donations. I think these things are the result of computer malfunctions or something.

[Cathyclysmic]

6. Sounds like a collection call

When a collection company runs out of leads about where the person is. They have a computer program that calls people with similar names, old addresses. family members and other criteria to find the person. The computer/auto dialer just keeps dialing people until they find the person and they press '2'. When the person presses '2', you end up in the collection queue.

[khashka]

7. Best one I ever got was

some dude who called and left a message:

"Honey, I've been arrested. I need you to come bail me out."


I kinda felt sorry for him...... His one phone call and he misdialed......

Khash.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

8. When I got my first answering machine, I didn't want to put my name

on the message, so I got calls like the following:

"We're going to pick you up at six tomorrow morning, so be ready!"

and

"We just love your house, and we want to make an offer!"

and

Someone speaking Spanish in sobs. This call came in twice, both times while I was out. The second time, she was asking (if my high school Spanish serves me correctly) why Whoever hadn't called her back. I felt really bad about it, but she didn't leave a number.

I still didn't want to put my name on the machine, so I came up with the idea of repeating my information in Japanese. This has greatly reduced the number of wrong number messages.

[khashka]

9. When I was still living with my parents

This girl used to call me...

And say "I'm a Lesbian and want to... (various obscenities)".

Then my mother answered my phone......"People call you and say things like this to you?!?!" "Well, yeah, I thought it was kind of charming..." "You are a sick sick man, my son" "Hey! I'm not the one doing the calling! I don't even know her!"


Actually I did my answer machine in Japanese..... but since the only thing I can pronounce correctly is "I want to eat you like an ice cream cone" it probably wasn't the best idea I ever had :)

Khash.

[hunter]

11. I got one of those, again and again.

Every day like clockwork, when nobody was home.

Before the guy left his message there was a short automated message identifying the jail. The first two times I ignored the call, but when it happened again I looked up the jail and called them. When I explained I didn't recognize the voice the officer who answered the phone laughed sort of cruely, and said "Poor guy has the wrong number, I'll take care of it."

I've always wondered what happend.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

12. For a while, I was getting calls asking for "the parent or guardian of

(some kid's name)." But it was always a different kid.

I don't have any children, nor am I guardian of any. The fourth time it happened, I told the man on the other end (probably a police officer or social worker) that the little darlings were probably passing this phone number around to delay having their real parents called. I told him that all claims that this number belonged to a parent or guardian should be ignored.

I received no more calls. :-)

[YellowRubberDuckie]

10. I did...

I pressed one and told them my number is on do not call list and my atty would be calling them if I received another call from them. I haven't.
Duckie

[Left Is Write]

13. That is just bizarre.

I'd wonder if it was a scam of some sort.

(And about that phone call regarding exercising three times a week - does that mean I should stop exercising the other four days a week? ;) That's a weird call to get too.)

[Robb]

14. My dentist uses one of those damn things

It's hilarious, especially considering how small her practice is. She just likes the toys, I think.

Anyhow, it's all a "press 1 to confirm your appointment" once I verify it's me. I could, alternately, lean out the window on a quiet morning and I think she'd hear me yell. :D

[RoyGBiv]

15. Every single freaking day ...

It's a bill collector/credit agency, and it doesn't matter what you push. Listen to the message. They'll still call, daily. You might get enough info out of the message to find out who it is, and then you can embark on the journey to find a real phone number with actual people on the other end...if you want.

I luckily have a call block feature on my phone and just blocked the number.

[kwassa]

16. My funniest ..... 20 years ago

My voice-activated answering machine picking up a robot sales call. This robot call had a feature in the middle where the supposed recipient at the other end could answer yes or no to a question. The robot call paused, and my voice-activated machine, at the long silence, hung up on the robot call.

No humans were involved in this transaction. Just two machines talking.