E-Comm releases list of top nuisance 9-1-1 calls in 2023
By Contributor
Whether you’re waiting on a traffic light, demanding directions home from the Drake concert, or concerned about your lost nose ring, general questions and complaints do not belong on 9-1-1.
E-Comm, which handles 99 per cent of B.C.’s 9-1-1 call volume, has released its tenth annual list of nuisance calls. And with an increase of 13 per cent in call volume to 9-1-1 in 2023, the reminder to keep lines clear for emergency situations only has never been more critical.
“No matter how absurd a call might be on the surface, we have to treat every 9-1-1 call as an emergency, until we can confidently determine otherwise,” explains Alaina Milicevic, police call taker at E-Comm.
“Every second we spend fielding questions about AirBnB reservations or complaints about UberEats orders, is time that could otherwise be dedicated to helping someone in a life-threatening emergency situation. We can’t help you with consumer complaints on 9-1-1, but reaching out to an appropriate customer service agent, or filing a report with the Better Business Bureau might help resolve your issue.”
Nuisance calls are a preventable problem and E-Comm is encouraging British Columbians to do their part by keeping 9-1-1 lines free for emergencies where immediate response is required from police, fire or ambulance.
Top 10 nuisance calls of 2023
- To ask for directions home from the Drake concert;
- The traffic light was taking too long to turn green;
- They lost a nose ring down the shower drain;
- Their AirBnB host cancelled their reservation;
- Their UberEats order was taking too long;
- A burger joint wouldn’t let them in before opening;
- They couldn’t find their cell phone;
- To complain about a pothole;
- Their McDonalds order was taking too long;
- The barber gave them a bad haircut.
Tips on proper use of 9-1-1
9‑1‑1 is for police, fire or medical emergencies when immediate action is required: someone’s health, safety or property is in jeopardy or a crime is in progress.
- Know your location at all times;
- Don’t program 9‑1‑1 into any phone;
- If you call 9‑1‑1 accidentally, stay on the line and let us know;
- Lock and store your cellphone carefully to prevent accidental 9-1-1 calls;
- Do not text or tweet 9-1-1;
- Call takers cannot transfer your non-emergency call from 9-1-1, visit nonemergency.ca for a list of alternate resources for reporting non-emergency matters.
E-Comm has handled more than 2.1 million 9-1-1 calls so far in 2023. Learn more at ecomm911.ca
