You get a voicemail from a wrong number - do you return the call to let them know they have the wrong number, or let it be?

I got several calls over a couple of days that said “Dave, your paycheck is here, come and pick it up.” “Dave, you gonna pick up your pay?” “Dave, where the heck are you? I’ve got your paycheck.”
After the 3rd or 4th message, I called to tell the guy he had the wrong number. He was very appreciative because he said Dave really needed the money. I think it would depend on the message. A meet up, or needing a ride or something like you described, yes. If it was just a message like “hey give me a call”, then no, I wouldn’t.

I get very few wrong numbers, but I really am too busy with other things to call back and let them know it was left on a wrong number.
I suppose if it was a call intended for the suicide hotline I might reconsider.

I have returned wrong number messages when a collections agency has been looking for the person who used to have our phone number. We started getting these calls about a week after we got this number. I always tell them that this hasn’t been her number for X number of years and no, we don’t know who she is. They stop, but then we get other calls from other creditors. We think she keeps giving out the number.

One other time I returned a wrong number was when I was still single. It was a lawyer looking for someone that wasn’t me. Told him that, and thought that was the end of it. About a week later he called again, and left a message for that person. I called him back, he apologized and we ended up going out for drinks! He was gorgeous but also very arrogant, so nothing came of it.

It’s a nice idea to let them know, but typically by the time I actually check my voicemail, they’ve not only had enough time to find their friend’s correct number, but probably also to take their friendship to the next level, and maybe even get married.

I’ve gotten messages that could have made a difference to someone and called to tell them their message had not reached the intended party. They were thankful.

Depends on the message, if it’s personal or business. An old man left a message for his son on my machine a few days ago, and I called him to tell him his son didn’t get it.

I would personally call back.

Generally, I do if I can, and it seems halfway important. My landline number is a couple of digits off from one of the local cab companies and at least twice I’ve had to call a person, usually a drunk person, back to tell them they left their message with the wrong number because I didn’t want them waiting for a cab that wasn’t coming. I’ve never entirely understood why people leave so many misdirected messages on my phones. My voicemail greeting is pretty basic: “Hi! This is Lilly. I can’t come to the phone right now but if you leave a message I will call you back.” But, I clearly identify myself. If you were were trying to call your friend Susan, it seems pretty clear that I am not her. It also seems pretty clear that I am not your doctor’s office or the bank or any other business. Perhaps people are multitasking and don’t actually pay attention to my message.

If they cared enough to leave a message, I would care enough to call them back

I don’t bother.

I don’t usually check my voicemail, anyways, so, that’s a negative.

Yes, I call back and let the caller know they called the wrong number. You never know how important/urgent something can be and I just like to help others when I can.:-)

My phone number is close to a dermatologist in my city. I get calls from people sometimes who are looking for her, so I do call them back. Actually, I call everyone back ‘cause I love to talk! There is a younger woman with the same name here who doesn’t pay her bills so I’ve had collection agencies to chat with a lot.

If they are stupid enough to ignore my outgoing message and think I’m still the party to whom they are calling, I don’t call them back. Eventually they’ll call me when I’m at home, and if I answer, they’ll quickly figure out what a doofus they’ve been. It’s ok. It could happen to anyone. Probably does. We live through it.

I leave it be.

You should let it be for this one major reason:

Convicts in prison make these phones calls by dialing anonymous phone numbers. They apparently have nothing better to do. By calling the voicemail number back, you are giving a possible convict your name and address on his call ID.

I would delete the number and forget it.

@john65pennington I think that’s where you get Google Voice, and set that number to go straight to the disconnected message.

I had a woman call me once while I was in an 8am class. When I listened to the message she was crying and talking about how she was sorry for everything and hoped we could make things right. To this day I don’t know if she a- stole someone’s husband, b- had just experienced a death, and c- ever contacted the person she was ACTUALLY trying to call.