Call taker Chelsea Brent is pictured in this undated photo submitted by E-Comm.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED / E-Comm

BC E-comm has put together its annual list of absurd calls fielded by 911 operators this year and they don't disappoint.

E-Comm handles nearly all of the emergency calls in BC and is reminding the public what constitutes an emergency and what doesn’t with a list of the top ten nuisance calls in 2023.

“No matter how absurd a call might be on the surface, we have to treat every 911 call as an emergency, until we can confidently determine otherwise,” Alaina Milicevic with E-Comm said in a media release, issued today, Dec. 29.

E-Comm is asking British Columbians to think twice before making 911 calls about non-emergencies.

These ten calls for mundane complaints stood out as non-emergencies that wasted time and resources:

1. To ask for directions home from the Drake concert
2. The traffic light was taking too long to turn green
3. They lost a nose ring down the shower drain
4. Their AirBnB host cancelled their reservation
5. Their UberEats order was taking too long
6. A burger joint wouldn’t let them in before opening
7. They couldn’t find their cell phone
8. To complain about a pothole
9. Their McDonalds order was taking too long
10. The barber gave them a bad haircut

“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," Milicevic said.

"We can’t help you with consumer complaints on 911, but reaching out to an appropriate customer service agent, or filing a report with the Better Business Bureau might help resolve your issue."

READ MORE: 10 good reasons not to call 911 in B.C.

E-Comm wants to remind people that 911 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.

Operators handled more than 2.1 million emergency calls in 2023 and have shared some tips about calling 911.

E-comm suggest you know your location at all times and don’t program 911 into any phone. If you call 911 accidentally stay on the line and let the operator know it was a mistake. Be sure to lock and store your cell phone carefully to prevent accidental 911 calls. And lastly, don't text or tweet 911.

Visit nonemergency.ca for a list of resources to report problems that aren’t emergencies.

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