I think you have the wrong number?

How many of you say this when someone calls on the phone and asks for a stranger? I know I do. Instead of, "You have the wrong number", I always say, "I think you have the wrong number."

My Mom, Dad and sister were having dinner. My Mom's cellphone rings. The caller asks for "Lucille". My Mom replies, "Lucille?  I think you have the wrong number."  The caller apologizes and hangs up. My Dad (who I swear sounds more and more like Victor Meldrew every day) say, "You THINK you have the wrong number?  Lemme check.... He gets up from the table and starts calling all over the house, "LUCILLE!  Are you here?  YO! LUCILLE!" My Mom and sis are crying they are laughing so hard. My Dad comes back and says, "What? Are there so many people living in this house now you can't keep track of them all?!"

Anyway, it did get me thinking as to WHY I say, "I *think* you have the wrong number", when in fact I'm *positive* they do!

Basically you say "I think" because it is sort of rude to say "you dialed the number wrong". Instead of saying "I'm sorry but perhaps you made a mistake and dialed incorrectly?", you say "I think you have the wrong number."

Yeah, I think (heh) it's just a nice way of delivering the news that they messed up.

I hate when wrong number callers get huffy at YOU because they got the wrong number.   

I hate when wrong number callers get huffy at YOU because they got the wrong number.   

Yes! So annoying.

The worst is when you're the erroneous dialer and then you dial the wrong number again. Embarrassing. 

I say "You have the wrong number" and depending on my mood I either wait for a reply or just hang up. But now that you mention it, I guess it's kind of rude... hmm.

How many of you say this when someone calls on the phone and asks for a stranger? I know I do. Instead of, "You have the wrong number", I always say, "I think you have the wrong number."

My Mom, Dad and sister were having dinner. My Mom's cellphone rings. The caller asks for "Lucille". My Mom replies, "Lucille?  I think you have the wrong number."  The caller apologizes and hangs up. My Dad (who I swear sounds more and more like Victor Meldrew every day) say, "You THINK you have the wrong number?  Lemme check.... He gets up from the table and starts calling all over the house, "LUCILLE!  Are you here?  YO! LUCILLE!" My Mom and sis are crying they are laughing so hard. My Dad comes back and says, "What? Are there so many people living in this house now you can't keep track of them all?!"

Anyway, it did get me thinking as to WHY I say, "I *think* you have the wrong number", when in fact I'm *positive* they do!

Thanks for the laugh! I totally "pictured" him shouting "LUCILLE!"

Your Dad's quite the character, lol.

I started saying ,"I'm sorry, there is no one here by that name", a few years ago. I don't know if it is any more polite, but it makes me feel better because I am not telling them they goofed up.