Bad haircuts, a lost nose ring, long waits for food: Here are E-Comm's top 10 nuisance 911 calls for 2023

The agency handling most emergency 911 calls in B.C. has released its annual list of the top 10 frivolous calls it received over the last year.

In a release, E-Comm said this year saw a 13 per cent increase in call volume overall, and is reminding the public to keep the lines clear for emergency situations.

"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," said call taker Alaina Milicevic. 

"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."

The release says 911 is for police, fire, or medical emergencies when immediate action is required, meaning someone's health, safety or property is in jeopardy or a crime is in progress.

E-Comm — the first point of contact for 911 callers in 25 regional districts in B.C., and a provider of dispatch services for more than 70 police agencies and fire departments across the province — has handled more than 2.1 million 911 calls so far in 2023. 

Here were their top 10 nuisance calls of the year: 

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