How late is too late to call?

[Kteacher]

My husband has a snow plowing business , so he's out plowing right now. Even though he prints his cell phone number on his bills with instructions to only call this number to reach him, there are always the few that imsist on calling our home #-only to find out that surprise! he's not home-he's out plowing! , thus the instructions to call him on his cell in order to reach him . Someone just called a few minutes ago-11:30 p.m. here in Ma. Non-emergency, just wondering when they would be plowed out. Is it just me, or is 11:30 too late to call someone's house ?

 

[Cruisin]

Unless it is an emergency, or someone you know will be up at that time for sure (like a close friend or family member) then I say that yes that is definitely too late to be calling someone, especially for that reason.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Yes, it is too late. Especially since it was not an emergency situation.

I think people forget that plowmen and other service jobs have families too.

 

[CookieGVB]

Yup, 11:30 is way too late, unless it's a friend that knows you well enough to call at that hour.

Do they realize it's his home phone number that they're dialing, or do they think it's an answering service for the business?

 

[WDWAurora]

I was always told that unless it's someone you're very close to, or is expecting your call, etc...to always call between 9am and 9pm, never before or after.

 

[Pat]

I think it is too late to call. They should not be calling your home anyway if he has his cell phone number and instructions printed on his bill.

 

[Cindy B]

YIKES! Way too late!

We go to bed fairly early around here, but are up very early... we tell people we are up then (usually around 6 am).. and we don't mind phone calls

 

[Disney Debbie]

That is DEFINITELY too late! I don't like people to call me after 9:00 unless it's a good friend. And even they know not to call after 10:00 unless it's major!

My DH is the ops mgr at a radio station in our very small town. Two weeks ago in the middle of church we hear the phone (we're in the choir and there's a phone behind the choir loft) Our choir director answered it and handed DH a message. It was from a funeral home telling him they had an obit they wanted him to put on. This was so "major" they called our church at 11:30 in the a.m. during the sermon. Not to be flippant about the death - but the lady was going to be dead at 12:00 when we're done with church - it's not like her status was going to change. I'm just amazed at how thoughtless people can be.

 

[floridaminnie]

If it happens a lot might consider getting a seperate line for business or just publish cell phone number on bill. That's way to late to be calling anyone unless it's an emergency!

 

[KimRaye]

Originally posted by floridaminnie
just publish cell phone number on bill

I agree. Besides, how important is it that snow be plowed at 11:30 at night? If this is a church or school or business client, I can see them wanting it plowed before they open for business but, to call at 11:30 at night....really.

P.S. My husband works for a suburban city and he plows in the winter, he's at work right now but, not plowing...yet. We get called at ALL hours, regardless. Last night, 3 AM!

 

[ByTheSea]

9 am to 9 pm in the general rule for I follow

Close family and friends I don't mind if they call after 7am weekdays, 8 am weekend, up to 10 pm, maybe 10:30 on weekends.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

<font color=navy>9:30 is pretty much my limit. When I was on the PTO, I used to get calls from parents at 11:30pm - used to drive me nuts.

 

[bclydia]

I consider a call before 9am or after 9pm rude. I have a few friends that can call after that but unless it's an emergency, I don't expect to hear that phone ring.
I'd consider getting call display and turning off the ringer after hours!

 

[TIGGERSMOM]

When I was a kid we always had the 9 to 9 rule also. There were those exceptions like I am sure everyone had - trips, special events etc.

Is your home number on the card? Or are these people just looking it up and calling? If the former have him take it off, if the latter put a message on the machine to call his cell for plowing.

We get calls at all hours now but that is due to the nature of our careers. I am a 24 hour call supervisor and he gets worldwide calls relative financial investments. When we don't want to be "found" we just turn off the phone.

 

[Kteacher]

I guess I just can't win! Someone called this morning at 7 wanting more sand for their driveway (yup-I was asleep ). DH puts his cell # on every bill with instructions to call his cell. The only way for a cutomer to get our home number would be to look it up, and it's pretty obvious it's a residential listing. How many days until Spring ?

 

[DVC-Don]

Welcome to the world of business. We have people calling our home late at night or early in the morning with the strangest questions or problems. We have a 24 hour service on our office phone with options to leave a message or talk to a company rep at any time of the day. We have signs at the office to call the office number 24 hours a day. It is also on all our stationary and business cards.

But, some look up our home number and call us at 2 AM to let us know they are buying a new car that morning or ask a question about a bill. We did not want to go to an unlisted number due to the kids friends, but we may have to.

 

[mudnuri]

I wudda been LIVID if someone called my house at 1130 at night for plowing...did they REALLY have to go somewhere?

When DH, DBIL and an employee of theirs plowed, the only numbers listed were cell numbers. Yes, some of them got our home numbers, but they were curtious and called in the am, around 6...which I can understand, if they need to get to work.

I use to get a lot of calls from people who just questioned where they were on the route, for instance, in my house, I have 4 vehicles that need to be moved when they got here, I would call the employee- as he was the one who plowed us, and ask him where he was- how far from here, so I could make sure I got the cars/trucks running, cleaned off, and ready to move outta the way.

Then last year, DH bought me a John Deere 575X Tractor with a snowblower for mothers day...LOL solved the problem with the plow, I clear out 3 of my neighbors drives, but NOBODY calls me, they know I'll get them cleared out in time for work...sometimes 5am sometimes 7am...I've even gone out at midnight if the snow stops...

I dont think theres much to do to change this now, as they've got your number so to speak!

Brandy