A Liverpool man has reportedly been inundated with phone calls after his ex-girlfriend registered his phone number to a local business, Derek's Coffee & Sandwiches. The story emerged when a customer attempting to place an order shared her encounter with the frustrated man on social media, and Derek's has confirmed the incident.
The Prank Unveiled
TikTok user Lizzie Wilde said she tried calling the Lark Lane site after noticing prices on UberEats, hoping to reduce her order cost. Instead of reaching the shop, she was greeted by a disgruntled man who said: "Hello! Let me guess, you want to order something from Derek's. Let me tell you something - I'm not Derek." Lizzie joked she hadn't expected Derek himself to answer and thought the restaurant's customer service was terrible.
When she asked to place an order, the man launched into a "five-minute rant," explaining his ex-girlfriend had posted his phone number on Derek's Google page as a prank intended to "ruin his life."
Derek's Response
A member of the Berry Street Derek's team told the Liverpool ECHO that owners Ethan Woodroofe and Adam Taylor are aware of the video and confirmed an unknown telephone number was indeed registered to the business. However, the identities of those involved remain a mystery. The team confirmed none of the shops have a telephone number, and any numbers appearing online are unrelated to the venues. Orders can only be placed in person or via delivery websites.
Lizzie said the man told her he was receiving "10 calls a day" from customers trying to order sandwiches. A similar spike occurred during the Christmas holidays, leaving him "livid." She flagged the issue with Lark Lane staff, who promised to investigate. The video was posted only after the man's number was removed from the site.
On June 9, two different telephone numbers were registered on two of Derek's Google addresses, but both have since been removed. The Derek's team is monitoring the telephone situation, having previously faced issues with fake reviews for items they don't sell.
