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Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1933, Page 3

WRONG NUMBER

TELEPHONES IN FRANCE. ’What amounts to a legal definition of the attitude that should be adopted by a telephone subscriber- on being rting. up by mistake lias just been delivered by the Civil Tribunal of a French seaport. . In July, 1931, a fish dealer was given a telephone "’ liirfnbor. : 'winch, until the end of 1930, had belonged to an impoitant .industrial undertaking. The result was that the fish dealer was continually called up by clients of the i ‘original oWndfe of the 5! number, until liis pafidnee, and the patience also of his employees, was exhausted. All' wiio answered' the rings, Vented their"'displeasure b'y : giving fantastic: replied to people .who’ rang thorn up ili error. They replied “Yes” to every question that wks put to them. If they were asked * whether they would reduce a quotatipn or Waive payment of a bill they said: “Yes with pleasure. 11 they were asked whether they could deliver certain ‘go-ods immediately they said: “Yen, of course.” One day'they haid'“Yes” to a man who ranA up from" -a place ICO miles away, and he made a special journey to the seaport on the strength of this reply. So the formed owners of the telephone number started legal proceeding for .£2OO damages. They - were awarded £3O.