"Head...Shoulders...Knees and...SOCKS!"

Last year, out of the blue I started gettng lots of calls on my cell phone.  Very few people actually have this number, so it was a little disconcerting when I started getting all these calls from strangers asking about the apartment I'm renting on Minnesota Avenue.  Huh?  Each time I'd tell them politely that they had the wrong number, and there was one woman who didn't quite believe me, and just kept calling back.

So when the calls started again last week, it was just an annoyance.  This time though, I asked the callers the address or exact location of where they saw the For Rent sign.  All of them had the same story - "My sister/friend/daughter gave me the number.  I don't know where it is, just that its on Minnesota Avenue."  Then Diane called.  Diane had left a message on my voice mail and politely asked for more information about the apartment, left her number, and wished me a "blessed day."  I did the right thing by calling her back to tell her she had the wrong number, and that if she could give me more details on where the place is so that I could track down the correct number that would be nice.  She called the next morning to apologize, and said that she was going to go over to the location that morning and would call me if she figured out the correct number. 

A few hours later Diane called again.  She figured out the correct number and it turns out it was a couple digits off from mine.  Instead of dialing "2" people were dialing "9" because the handwritten sign was hard to read. 

But then Diane said: "I want to warn you if you call this guy, because he was a real jerk and I'm certainly not going to be renting an apartment from him.  He was NASTY!  Good luck!"  Awww...thanks Diane!  She totally rocked, and I wished her luck in finding a new apartment.

FINALLY!  I had the phone number.  I called the guy and Diane was right on.  I told him I was calling regarding the apartment on Minnesota Avenue.  He tells me it's been rented and then jumps right in to his spiel about other apartments that he's renting.  I interrupt him and tell him I'm not looking to rent, but that the sign on the Minnesota Ave place is difficult to read, because I've been getting calls for him all week.  He gets all indignant "NO ITS NOT!"  "Well yes it is sir, because people have been calling my cell phone all week asking about YOUR apartment.  I suggest that you make a new sign that is more clear." He got all huffy and rude (Diane was right about him) and I had to interrupt him again to say "Well I suggest that you do check it out, because I didn't have to call you, I'm doing the nice thing by telling you this, so that you will get the calls that are rightfully yours and this will help your business."

Since then, I haven't received any more calls.  Most likely it's because the unit was rented and he took down the sign.  But if it happens again, do I do the nice thing and give people the correct number? It goes against my nature to say "You don't want this place - the owner is a schmuck" (well  actually it doesn't, but I wouldn't want any retribution).  One of my co-workers suggested I give out the number for an apartment finder service.  I think I'll probably just say - "Sorry! Wrong number!" because then I can be polite towards the callers but passive agressive towards the schmuck with the apartment.