Comments on: I Do Not Call Wrong Numbers

By: nanheyangrouchuan

nanheyangrouchuan — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 06:15:38 +0000

It is a sign of bad number block management. Just another indication of how backward and primitive China is.

By: DKwan

DKwan — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:51:24 +0000

I think it’s because lying is so common in China, and there are so many shady businesspeople, so callers just assume you’re lying.

By: Pete Braden

Pete Braden — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:44:35 +0000

I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that so many people here use calling cards or codes and so manually enter the number each time they dial instead of using speed dial. It sure is vexing.

By: Jeremiah

Jeremiah — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:53:13 +0000

That’s hysterical, what a great post!…Though I find switching to English doesn’t always deter the more intrepid Beijing mis-caller, they often run around the neighborhood rounding up somebody’s kid to call you back and then repeat the request in Chinglish. I’ve found a better response is on the third attempt, answer the phone in Spanish/French/Japanese/Navajo…pick your random language. That usually does the trick.

By: chriswaugh_bj

chriswaugh_bj — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 01:24:29 +0000

In Changsha wrong numbers would call repeatedly every few minutes for hours on end until I eventually had to either leave the phone off the hook, get online (ah, old-fashioned dial-up, did have some uses) or go out somewhere. I suppose on the bright side the wrong numbers did get me a lot more fresh air and exercise. I never understood why it was so hard for Changsharen to understand they had the wrong number. Never had anywhere near as much trouble up here, although I have had one or two incidents when it seems somebody in the office gave out my home phone and sent a demanding parent my way…..

By: Leslie

Leslie — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:37:53 +0000

This happened to me a lot in Washington Heights- the person who had my phone number before me apparently was not very resposnisble. Child Protective Services called and left messages every month or so asking for her, and in spite of calling them back explaining that she no longer was at that phone number, they always called back. Also, one night someone called collect from Rikers 5 times, asking for her before they finally understood that Maria Carmen didn’t have that phone number.

By: Nick

Nick — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:54:06 +0000

Happens on my mobile all the time. Once or twice the callers have gotten abusive or asked for my name or worse my address, convinced i am F#$king with them.

By: Tina

Tina — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 05:18:19 +0000

That’s funny. Something similar happen to us a couple of days ago, but not nearly as frustrating as you experienced. After a few tries with the same response, we received a text message apologizing for disturbing us.

By: Meg

Meg — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:02:29 +0000

Haha! This has happened to me as well! But I’ve assumed the confusion was related to my limited Chinese. I usually end up “Not here. Not here. Foreigners live here” over and over… and then not picking up when the phone rings a second later.