The Great Phone Number Mix-Up of 2023 (and Why I Still Answer to ‘Brenda’)

Brenda, is this a good time?” And you think, “Brenda? Who’s Brenda? Is this one of those AI scams?”

The Wrong Number That Started It All

Well, friends, that’s how my adventure into the wacky world of wrong numbers began. It was a Tuesday, or maybe a Wednesday (who can really keep track?), and the culprit was a particularly persistent telemarketer trying to sell me life insurance. Except, they weren’t trying to sell it to me. They were trying to sell it to Brenda.

Now, I’m usually a pretty patient person, but after the fifth “No, I’m sorry, you’ve got the wrong number,” even I started to crack. I tried everything: explaining, politely declining, even resorting to a very convincing British accent (don’t ask). Nothing worked. They always came back, like telemarketing zombies, chanting “Brenda? Brenda?”

The Case of the Misguided Pizza Delivery

Things escalated quickly. Soon, it wasn’t just telemarketers. It was restaurant reservation confirmations, dentist appointment reminders, and even – I kid you not – a very confused pizza delivery guy holding a large pepperoni with extra anchovies (Brenda’s apparent order of choice).

#telemarketers annoyance Brenda communication mishap customer service everyday life funny stories identity mix-up persistence Personal Essay phone call pizza delivery telemarketing wrong number