B.C. 911 call centre asks public to stop calling to complain about broken Wi-Fi

VANCOUVER – B.C.’s largest 911 call centre is asking the public to stop draining its emergency resources with complaints about cold food or broken Internet.

E-Comm has released a list of 10 reasons to not call 911, saying it is a reminder that the emergency line is not an information line.

The centre says calls have included someone asking for a replacement slice of pizza because theirs isn’t fresh, inquiries about the date, or asking for a taxi.

In one instance, someone called to ask for help finding their lost glasses.

But the centre’s number one reason not to call is to report that Wi-Fi at a coffee shop isn’t working, which it says was this year’s top nuisance call.

Spokeswoman Jody Robertson says 911 call takers simply cannot answer questions about how long power outages will last, or when the clocks turn back, as E-Comm receives approximately 2,600 calls per day.