Leaving a message - request stemming from vent

[NCDisneyMom]

I run a home-based business. My biggest peeve lately is the way some people leave voicemail messages. Everything is usually fine until they go to leave their phone number, and I hear 7 digits all running together. I'm sorry, but I CAN'T WRITE THAT FAST!! And, sometimes they go so fast that the numbers literally blend together, and I can't make the number out.

Other times, they will just say, "Call me at 123-4567". OK, fine, but I work with people all over the state, and sometimes neighboring states...would you mind leaving an area code? Heck, even in our immediate surroundings there are two area codes. It's different when you are calling a friend who knows you and where you live, but a business doesn't always know this.

So, my request to everyone, to make everyone's lives just a little bit easier. When you are leaving a voice mail, leave your entire number, including area code, just in case. When reciting your number, please slow down and speak clearly. I will usually say "Please call me at 123......456.....7890. To repeat 123.....456.....7890".

Thank you, and stepping off my soapbox (although I do feel better for venting )

 

[aquinas]

can I call you at 867-5309?

 

[bbangel]

But they know their number, so doesn't that mean everyone knows their number?

 

[Michie]

Iknowwhatyoumeanitdrivesmenuts!!

 

[Pam]

can I call you at 867-5309?

I think that Zayra from Rockstar will answer.....

To the OP: I have the same problem! I will sometimes hit the playback button several times and enlist the ears of anyone around me to get the number.

Sometimes I leave the message on the voicemail asking the caller to "slowly and loudly leave their name and complete phone number."

 

[MorganLeFey]

can I call you at 867-5309?

there's a plumbing company that bought that phone number, and uses the song as their advertising jingle....

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

I hate when people do that.

When I leave a message I leave my name and number (slowly) message then repeat the number.

 

[Chicago526]

It's a huge pet peeve of mine, too. I especially love it when they leave this huge, long winded 5 minute message that contains no info that you can actually use for anything they are calling about, then at the end, race through the number like their life depended on it. Then I have to play back the whole &*@%# 5 MINUTE MESSAGE so I can attempt to get the rest of the number!

To the OP: Change your outgoing message to "Please leave your name and number with area code...." I did this and found it really helped with that.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Kevin James (Doug from the King of Queens) used to do a hilarious stand up comedy routine about this. He said a friend will call and start off the message all slow and then when he gets to the number part speed through it and combine numbers like saying "sixteenfortythreeeighteentwentynine" real fast and he starts screaming at the answering machine "Slow down! I already wrote the eight first! I don't have enough room to put the one in front! I have too many numbers!" and you have to replay it 25 times before you give up and wait for them to call again. It really is so funny. And so true!

 

[Buckalew11]

Iknowwhatyoumeanitdrivesmenuts!!

Amen!!!

I think people should repeat it slowly--twice. Luckily, I have most all of my clients numbers, cell numbers and email.

 

[luvdzne]

I agree! This is one of my biggest pet peeves! Tell me your name and number, then your message and then please repeat you phone number. It makes me crazy to have to keep listening to a whole message 10xs in order to catch a phone number.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Kevin James (Doug from the King of Queens) used to do a hilarious stand up comedy routine about this. He said a friend will call and start off the message all slow and then when he gets to the number part speed through it and combine numbers like saying "sixteenfortythreeeighteentwentynine" real fast and he starts screaming at the answering machine "Slow down! I already wrote the eight first! I don't have enough room to put the one in front! I have too many numbers!" and you have to replay it 25 times before you give up and wait for them to call again. It really is so funny. And so true!

I've seen that routine and it is funny.

I too hate when people say fourteen instead of one. four. because i've already written the 4 , I can't squeeze the one in.

 

[Stacerita]

That drives me crazy!!! People do it at work all the time. And its just an extension, but still. 8857 sounds just like 8847 when its said fast and slurred together. Luckly, I can always look them up in the directory. I hate when I get voice mails left on my home machine. I almost can neve make the numbers out and have to replay over and over.

I try my hardest to leave a clear message, say my numbers slow, always include my area code, say my name, and repeat.

 

[doxdogy]

I am assuming that you have voicemail through your local phone company. Check the front of your phone book for instructions. I know with our local phone company, one of the numbered keypads can be used to slow the message down.

 

[SC Minnie]

This drives me nuts too.

I always leave my name and number at the beginning of the voice mail as well as at the end after the reason I called.

 

[MareQ]

UG! I hate that as well - I work FT from home (Telecommuter) and my answering machine doens;t have a rewind option like voice mails has - I have to listen to the whole message over again if I missed something/

I am picky about my messages that I leave - I always start out with "This is "name" from "company" my number is 9-7-3 5-5-5 1-2-1-2 that's 9-7-3 5-5-5 1-2-1-2 Then I leave my message and repeat my name, company and phone number again.

I hate it when people speak too fast and only leave the phone # once in the message - lol!