Two weeks ago our office updated our phone system to a more professional business setup. The new system brought additional phone extensions and 23 new phone numbers. While it was a bit of a headache having our phones and internet down while the phone company upgraded our account, it was nothing compared to our new problem.
When our awesome office manager, Christine, got into the office the morning after the update, she got an odd phone call. It was a little girl (or boy–she couldn’t tell from the prepubescent voice) who giggled, asked for Jenny, and hung up. Numerous similar phone calls have occurred since.
Our problem really started in 1982. At that time, a strange song called Jenny was released by a band called Tommy Tutone. The song’s chorus, “eight six seven five three oh nah-eeh-ah-ine,” propelled it to the number four position on the Billboard Hot 100. The song continues to ruin lives today at karaoke bars and with bad Bar Mitzvah DJs. The memorability of the phone number has made it ideal for phone pranks. Thus, our problem.
We now receive the same phone call all day:
Christine: Hello this is Christine.
Annoying Kid: Is Jenny there? *giggle*
Christine: No, Jenny died in a horrible car crash two days ago, may I ask who is calling?
Annoying Kid: *Click*
(I may have improvised a little… Christine actually laughs along with the kids every time.)
Jenny’s infamous phone number is not the only one to torture innocent receptionists. It is joined by others that make up the Worst Phone Numbers To Have Hall of Shame. (Cue trumpets, Bill Nye style)
Year ruined: 1982
How it was ruined: Tommy Tutone releases Jenny specifically to torture SEOmoz 26 years later.
Phone Number: 776-2323
Year ruined: 2003
How it was ruined: Bruce Nolan, the main character of the movie Bruce Almighty, uses this number repeatedly to call God. Fittingly, the number connected some callers to a Reverand based in Atlanta, Georgia. When he was interviewed about receiving so many phone calls, he replied, “If they ask us if God is there, we say, ‘Yes.’ He’s with us all the time.'”
Phone Number: 281 330-8004
Year ruined: 2005
How it was ruined: This was the actual cell phone number of the rapper and one hit wonder, Mike Jones. WARNING: link is explicit and toolish.
Phone Number: OXford-0614 (Thanks g1smd)
Year ruined: 1932
How it was ruined: Actor Stan Laurel used a phone number in the movie Helpmates. Unfortunately for him, it was his actual number.
Phone Number: Unknown #
Year ruined: 1997
How it was ruined: The number displayed on the construction company in the movie Good Will Hunting. The phone number was the actual number of Matt Damon‘s previous employer.
Although the list is short, it is sure to grow. To avoid this exact problem, the TV and movie industry have used the reserved block of 555 phone numbers. This means that most phone numbers mentioned in movies and on television shows don’t connect to an actual person. Unfortunately, it looks as if the restrictions on the 555 block of phone numbers has been lifted. So while SEOmoz’s situation is rare now, it could become common place if 555 numbers start being assigned to the public.
There is one more element of our situation that makes it truly bizarre.
The range of phone numbers that the phone company assigned to our account is not even close to 867-5309. This means the problem is not even supposed to be happening! The combined brain power of the limited amount of people in the office can not figure out why the prank calls are being forwarded to our number. When we try to call the Tommy Tutone phone number it does not forward to our office. Yet, we still receive calls from kids asking for “Jenny from the song”. It’s a modern day mystery.
