Wrong Numbers

Hi. (True story follows)

I want to know if anyone else out there has any phone line that they do NOT use for incoming phone calls. Like your modem line for example. I have a dedicated use line that nobody I know has the number for. This means, if it ever rings, I know it is a wrong number.

There is a lot of power in such a line. A lot of fun. It quite simply means that I have a phone line, and when it rings, I get to play terrible horrible mind games with the callers. Luckily, I also have a number that yields a fair number of wrong numbers. Often for the Barster family, or
something similar.

At first, I was answering the phone just with a funny voice. Things like ultimate hick accents, or loud yelling voices. It was fun for a while.

Next, I started answering in a radio voice, and saying the following;

"Hey, you're lucky caller 17. Do you know the answer to the question?"

The callers would almost always play along, often with increased excitement. They know they dialed the wrong number, but they now have an opportunity to win something. I've had a lot of;

"ummmm... errr... can you repeat the question?"

One cute caller just guessed. He said simply; "Willy Mayes"

It's fun. Try it.

I had one caller admit it was a wrong number, and he called right back to the SAME number. I answered; "Sorry, we just gave away the cash, try again later" and hung up. He must have wondered... what did he miss?

Today however, I was in a weird mood, and I took this to the next level.

I answered;

"Chex Radio, you're our 4th winner - could you hold please."

Sadly, I don't have any music on hold, but I still was able to keep the caller on hold for 4 minutes. I then came back and abruptly asked for their name, phone number and whether they had won anything from Chex radio in the past three months. When they happily - and curiously answered my questions, I became mean.

"Thanks for your personal information Susan. You've actually dialed the wrong number, and if you ever do it again, I know where you live.  Goodbye, and thanks for listening to Chex radio"