Dealing With a Wrong Number

Exercise 1

Useful Expressions

• I’m afraid you’ve dialed the wrong number.
• You must have dialed the wrong number.
• Sorry, I think you have the wrong number.
• May I ask who you are trying to contact?
• Who are you trying to reach?
• There’s no Mark here.
• Sorry, there's no one by that name here.
• What number did you dial?
• It’s not a problem at all.

Exercise 2

Dialogue Practice

Read the dialogue aloud with your teacher.

Mr. Abbott is calling one of his clients, Mr. Walters, to inquire about an appointment that Mr. Walters did not show up for.
Jonathan Abbott	Hello, I am calling about the meeting we scheduled for today.
David	Hello, who is this?
Jonathan Abbott	I'm sorry, this is Jonathan Abbott, from Office Best. We were supposed to have a meeting today.
David	I am sorry, you must have dialed the wrong number... Who are you trying to reach?
Jonathan Abbott	I am trying to reach Mr. Walters.
David	There is no Mr. Walters here. What number did you dial?
Jonathan Abbott	I was trying to call 555-5698.
David	Oh, I see. This is 555-5689. So it's 5689, not 5698.
Jonathan Abbott	Oh, I am so sorry for the inconvenience!
David	It’s not a problem at all.

Check your understanding:

1.

Who was Mr. Abbott trying to reach?

2.

Why couldn't he reach his client?

3.

Why did he want to talk to Mr. Walters?

Exercise 3

Role Play

Role-play the following situation with your teacher.

Situation

Somebody calls to make an appointment at the dentist but they’ve dialed the wrong number. Your teacher will be the person calling the wrong number. You may use the following expressions:

• I’m afraid you have dialed the wrong number.
• Who were you trying to reach?
• Sorry, there's no one of that name here.
• What number did you dial?
• Don't worry about it.

Exercise 4

Discussion

1.

Have you ever had to deal with someone calling the wrong number? What did you do?

2.

How do you react when you realize you have called the wrong number?

3.

Do you usually answer calls from unknown phone numbers?

4.

Have you ever had to deal with prank calls?