Phone Answering Puns

I answered the phone in electronics this morning and home office called. The first thing they said was they needed to speak to the store manager and no one was answering the phone. I told them I had no idea if the manager was even at work today and that it is totally normal for the phones to be ignored. They said they couldn’t understand why and I just plainly said I almost never see management, we are understaffed, undertrained, and being yelled at by customers for even thinking of answering a phone in their presence or do not have time to deal with phone calls while handling every other assignment due. I put them on hold and put a page out for a manager to pick up the line. They eventually just gave up and hung up after about 10 more minutes on hold.

I am not sure If home office is oblivious to how the stores run or if they are just willfully ignorant of it.

So I have an iPhone 11 and it’s never given me issues. Just now, I was FaceTiming my boyfriend and my phone died in the middle of it. It disconnected and the screen went black like normal.

I charged it back up quickly and my boyfriend had sent multiple concerned texts, so I called him again. Apparently, he had called me again when my phone had (unknowingly to him) died, and someone picked up. He says it was highly pixelated, but the image of a person who definitely was NOT me (they had dark skin and I am pale as shit) appeared, and moved like a person until my bf quickly hung up.

I have no idea what this is, he is definitely not the type to scare me and has never pulled a prank in the two years we’ve been together. He has both this number and my old number saved under my contact, so we theorize that maybe it called my old number when this one couldn’t be reached, but we’re not certain.

This whole ordeal sounds like bs but I’m genuinely flabbergasted. Does anyone have an explanation or advice? I appreciate it greatly.

**Edit to clarify: My bf did not physically dial my number for FaceTime, he simply pushed the FaceTime button under my contact! So he didn’t just dial something wrong, I can see how one could assume that from my post :)

UPDATE: I contacted my old number like some of you suggested, and it turns out it has been reactivated for a new owner. What a relief, thank you those who left genuine advice :)

So I've been at a well known fast food chain since pretty much the start of the pandemic last year. Absolutely love my job, and we've lost a previous manager and assistant manager months back because they up and quit. Which left one of the current shift managers to be promoted to our new GM. Which then gave me the opportunity to be a main opener. This week, our GM is out because of personal reasons. So it's been hell since he left us for the week. And the last few days, one of my shift managers has been complaining that she hadn't received a break. Like okay, our lunches can get super busy. And then yesterday, the same SM blew up my phone 6 times around 9ish pm and she left me three mean texts. I was asleep when she did that because my days normally start at 4:45am (have to walk to work by 6am and it takes me 40ish minutes to walk) and I don't get off til 2pm so yeah, I deserve to sleep in. She was wanting me to come in today (on a requested day off because I had a drivers test to do and I knew I wouldn't get off on time to make it there by 2)

So AITA for not wanting to come into work on my requested day off?

Edit 1: our lunch staff includes 9 people who aren’t minors, most days it’s 4/5 people (depending on who’s scheduled and whatnot) and the other 9 people are minors who work our dinner shift. I’m one of two main openers (my GM is the other main opener so I usually open with GM or another shift lead). I mainly walk to work which means I wake up at 4:45 am to be at work by 6am. Takes me about 40ish minutes because I live across town. I’ve been an opener since our last GM and AGM quit unexpectedly. My usual shift is 6-2 and honestly, I’m mentally, emotionally and physically drained. So our GM usually does help with lunches, but since he’s out for the week, it’s been a bit hectic at the store.

Hi obligatory I’m (23F) engaged to my fiancé (27M). I work as a Case Manager, and work with clients. I had to go to my clients home today to visit and check in with her two sons. Turns out client has her abusive boyfriend back in the picture. I had to make a report and get the police involved as she has a protective order against him, as well as the kids have one too.

This all took roughly 2 hours and what was supposed to be a quick check in turned into me being at her home until 9 p.m. I didn’t have my phone on me at this time, and my fiancé and his mother called me multiple times and both blew up at me for “not answering your phone and putting yourself in a dangerous situation.”

I get that I would definitely want to know too, but I kinda had my hands full trying to sort everything out. I’m also not supposed to answer my phone while at work due to HIPPA laws, so I don’t even have my watch notifications on either.

Now both MIL and Fiancé are upset and think I excessively put myself into danger and I need to be more responsible and “answer the phone. you have a life outside of work.” So reddit, AITA for not answering my phone?

I find it strange that most Germans, who are normally very concerned about their privacy, will give their surname when answering the phone. I just say hello and have often been accused of being rude for not giving my name before the caller identifies themselves. In these days of identity thefts, spam calls etc. I find it quite unbelievable. Don't get me started on having to have your surname on your doorbell for everyone to see.

For context, I work at a 7-Eleven and I have a HORRIBLE time saying no to people. I'm easily manipulated. I live like 2 blocks from work (takes me 10 mins to get there) and I'm often the 1st person who is called in to cover a shift and the owner will try and (successfully) pursade me into coming in. I get anxiety when it comes to getting in trouble, so I tend to just do what people ask, but this ends up with me getting used and I hate it. I don't know if me not answering will result in me getting in trouble. I'm doubtful it'd result in being fired (we're short staffed).

Edit: Also to add, and before anyone says something, I've been coming in to cover shifts since March. I'm so bad at saying no that I still came in while sick because he didn't want to work. I told my manager and was told that i should've stayed home and it's not my responsibility to cover those shifts, and that if no one can, he is supposed to, or can have his kids do so. She's told me to next time ignore his call.

I’m a 17 year old highschool student and I have a part time job at a grocery store. I get a call, sometimes multiple during class almost every single day. I’m not allowed to answer my phone during class and they’re fully aware of that, yet I got into trouble with my work for not answering. They always ask me to pick up extra shifts. This grocery store is part of a union so I was able to limit my hour to 12 a week. They seem to not understand that I set a limit for a reason. I reject extra shifts every single day because it interferes with my school. Is there anything I can do about this? Report them to the union maybe? I have very limited knowledge about law but this doesn’t seem right. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I don’t know exactly what this is related to or where it came from, but if I had to point to a memory - it could relate to being made to answer the phone with a very proper “Hello, this is the ... residence, X speaking...” - and my ndad has also always left very particular voicemails with time- even proper time zone! - date, etc. Again I don’t know if it’s a direct relation or if my anxiety comes more from the particular life stuff involved in these phone calls. (Taxes, loans, etc... dealing with any stranger or new colleague on the phone in a business context...) A bit of a rant, but curious if there are others that struggle with this.

Is this like a real feature or just anecdotal?

Ok. Sorry if this is to-the-point..

Long story short.. I'm really looking to change my lifestyle and work from home. I have spent 5 years mentoring under an orchardist making crap and now I have to save money, work, live out of a camper trailer, and find a way to work online. (My dream is to buy land to start raising fruit trees in a nursery/farm with a retreat/air-bnb.. It's a whole business plan, but I digress, getting side-tracked..) I am so overwhelmed by my life and I need one kind internet stranger to point me in the right direction. So if that's you.. Thanks in advance.

I am very good with answering phones and data entry. I've been told my typing rate is very fast. I used to work for hotels and other hospitality jobs that required representing the company on the telephone, scheduling, etc, and handled it well. I could buy a headset if that is the right direction to head in. I also have 10-year out of date knowledge of digital art. I used to have a wacom tablet and adobe photoshop. Did drawings and paintings in digital medium. I could very well get into that again if it's possible.. I've made and sold logos, designs, etc, privately.. As a farmer I have built protocol materials for staff as a manager as well as excel sheets to track numbers, project harvests, set planting dates, and so on..

Basically.. I'm just asking.. Folks out there.. Any advice?

I've been working in a job that has been emotionally unfulfilling for the last 7 years and 4 months. I haven't had a raise in who knows how long. I applied for a step up position and was passed over even for an interview. Another position is opening and they've made it clear they have no intentions of moving me to that positon by purchasing me a new desk in my office "for the long term".

In February I applied for a job with the county that I live in. Much better pay, same benefits, same hours, room for advancement. Basically a job that I really REALLY wanted.

I checked my email every day, multi times a day, almost frantically all through February and the majority of March. Nothing came through. So I went back to not checking my email very often. Its mostly junk mail all the time.

I never answer my phone if I don't know the number. I've fallen behind on my bills so I hate listening to voicemail because I'm sure the messages are all from bill collectors.

Last night I decided to delete some emails and came across one from the HR department saying they were trying to get ahold of me to schedule an interview. I listened to my voicemails and there were multiple calls to schedule an interview.

With the luck that I have, the interviews were YESTERDAY!!!!!

So last night I emailed to the HR department and apologized for missing all of their attempts and that I hoped if they had a future opening they would consider me. (At this point I'm crying)

I get an email this morning saying: Tuesday was the end of our interviews.  We have a candidate we will be offering the position to. Please feel free to apply for future positions with our office.  Your resume was impressive.

TEARS AGAIN

TL;DR: Didn't get an interview for the job I wanted because I didn't answer my phone or email

'Niles Crane, puh-sychia-trist.'

I'm interested in what the consensus is among the group about how you answer tax questions. I'm starting to sense a problem with clients calling up to get an answer to a question, which I have up to now been happy to provide general guidance about what the law will require. Then the client goes off and does something that is related to what we discussed, but with enough difference in facts to change the answer, sometimes significantly. Then we get to discussing the thing that they did, and they say "but I called and you said 'x' and now it is not 'x'".

I hate to be this formal about it, but I am leaning toward having the conversation with them and getting the facts that they stipulate and then sending a written response so that there is no question about what I tell them or what facts are assumed. Does this seem like a reasonable thing to do? Do you have a method that you always use or do you handle it on a case by case basis?

The issue of needing to really document what I am telling them was not a problem for many years, but it has popped up a few times in the past few months. I don't want to be a jerk about it, but at the same time there really isn't a defense against "you said x,y,z". Even if you had a documented note (which I many times do, but am not always disciplined about) from the phone call, the client is still likely to believe that he heard what he wanted to hear.

I'll be interested for any thoughts that the group has.

I’m trying to get ahold of the south location and It sends you to voicemail and they haven’t called me back

AITA for not answering the phone at work?

Ok so I (38M) have a wife (36F) and 2 daughters (6&4F). I work as a truck driver so my wife stays home with our girls while I am at work often for days at a time. The problem here starts because one of our girls (4) was climbing the play set in our backyard and fell off, splitting her head open pretty badly. While I’m on the road I often have my phone on do not disturb as driving a big vehicle is a lot to focus on, even without distractions like my phone. I stopped at a rest stop a few hours after the incident occurred with 48 missed calls from my wife, sister, and MIL. I finally called back my wife to figure out what happens and she tells me. She also starts freaking out and blows up on me for not being able to be contacted in the chance of an emergency. My daughter had a concussions and several stitches, but other than that will be fine. I am obviously concerned but say it’s part of my job to be focused on the road, not my phone. My family and hers have been blowing up my phone saying I’m an absent and irresponsible father, and she’s even threatened to leave me over this. Was I really TA here? She knows my I’m unavailable during my rides, and even if I was I am unable to turn around to go to the hospital/emergency area.

I have a hotel booking and park tickets next week and we need to contact the park to verify our reservation but NO ONE is answering the phones. I just get auto disconnected.

It's over the stupidest fucking meme I can't believe how badly I short circuited over something so silly and now I can't stop laughing. It's unlikely to have any negative consequence but it is indeed a fuck up.

So my sibling sent me this meme- the joke being that instead of a droplet/virus particulate model for unmasked people, it's rather two people who just got done eating glitter from Joanne Fabrics spewing it all over each other. It's so stupid and silly that I start giggling.

My phone rings and I'm still giggling, so I try to compose myself and answer the phone with the standard greeting, and instead distractedly say "Okay Google" and just sit there waiting for them to say why they were calling...

Of course, the person not being a total lunatic, was not used to starting a conversation with a mutual web browser trigger phrase and after a long period of silence (wherein I was still oblivious as to what I had said) uttered a small "W...what?"

It all came crashing down, I realized that I had just tried to query the person, and in a panic I started to explain that I was distracted and why. I got out "Oh I'm sorry, there was this meme-" before the idea of explaining the meme over the phone (to someone likely calling in for a status check on a grant application or something else normal) took form. My hind brain took over; it weighed the costs and benefits of babbling insanely about why eating glitter was funny as a concept, and totally explains why I answered the call with what I said; that yes, after all that, I AM competent and totally able to assist you. It made a judgement call. It chose flight.

I grayed out and reflexively hung up the phone.

From their end the call went like this: "Okay Google..." ".......What?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, this meme-" call disconnects.

TL;DR: I grayed out and reflexively hung up the phone after having short circuited from a silly meme, leaving the other person speechless. Don't meme and work folks, your brain will melt.

What should we do we live in a different county and we have been good friends up to this. I’ve told no one yet as he is held in such regard no one would believe me!

Heya!

Do phone calls easily startle you or irritate a ever loving heck out of you (like proper anger)? Do you absolutely dread phone calls for fear of not listening or not being able to focus? Do you tense up throughout the call?

If so... yay I'm not alone. But also... sorry you have that issue too. AND... pray for me because my job is answering calls for a living and having started 2 years ago it hasn't got any easier.

I've only very recently concluded that this might be part of an ADHD problem and am awaiting a chat with my GP on Thursday to get properly assessed someday (hopefully).

My work are currently trying to accommodate me and my current diagnosis (anxiety, depression, insomnia)... but if it is an ADHD symptom (I score extremely high on all inattentive symptoms and some hyperactive ones), then I think I might be fighting a losing battle?

Anyone coped with a job like this and if so hoooow!?

Do companies sometimes just not let future employees know they passed the background check? Should I just assumed I passed if I didn't hear anything? Is it possible they rescinded the offer?

Any advice would be great.

I live with my girlfriend in an area that has no cases. We are both vaccinated along with her parents so we decided to have them for dinner tonight for the first time since Christmas of 2019.

My girlfriend is Russian and there is a small Russian grocery store about a half hour away she likes to shop at. It closes at 5 PM during the week.

Gf asks me while I’m working on a project with a day left on the deadline to run to the Russian store and pick up some ingredients. I have no problem with this as Im about 95% done with this project I got for work the next day and can spare 90 minutes to grab what she needs to cook.

Note: I’ve never been to this store before and am not too familiar with Russian cuisine or what is used.

She tells me what to pick up and I run over there and I come to find out not every item there has an English alphabet translation and the store clerk speaks minimal English at best but nonetheless still does his best to help me grab what she told me to get. Before checking out, i decide to FaceTime her to be 100% sure I’m getting exactly what is needed.

I tried calling, no answer, try 4 more times and she still doesn’t pick up. I tried texting her, no response. I’m getting frustrated. If you send someone on an errand or to do you a favor, I think you should at the very least answer the phone in case a question needs to be answered. Eventually I say whatever and just pay for what I have and leave. I call 2 more times on the way back and still no answer. I’m starting to get worried.

I get home and i find her phone in the bedroom and for some reason, she’s in the shared back yard sitting down with the neighbors.

I’m like “hey I tried calling like 6 times and texted you, we’re you back here without your phone for nearly 2 hours?” I’m annoyed but I’m keeping a civil tone and have a smile on my face. Happy the crib didn’t get invaded with her home alone or some crazy shit.

She goes inside with me, looks in the bag and frowns. Apparently most of the shit I got is not what she wanted. I told her the clerk who helped me must have misunderstood what I wanted and reminded her I can’t read or understand Russia and that I tried to verify everything was right with her but she didn’t answer the phone because for some reason she didn’t have it on her for 2 hours.

She gets frustrated and tells me to go back to the store before it closes. I tell her no because I want to finish up some work, I don’t want to get caught in rush hour traffic co