What's on your answering machine?

We just got a new phone/answering machine and I wondered if Germans do answering machines differently. I just say the usual "we're not available, blah blah, leave a message", or sometimes we put funny stuff on there. Is it the same here? I haven't called a non-business number so I have no idea.

Also, just out of curiosity, what would be the German translation of "we're not available at the moment, so leave a message."??

"Kein Anschluss unter dieser Nummer. Bitte rechts aussteigen."

I speak in English on mine. As most of my friends are english or english speakers, its funyn though when someone new calls, and then they think they have to speak in english on my machine!

@randy - wow that is really funny!
@carm - I speak German on mine, well the Handy thingy is a work thingy and home one is mixed German and English...just to confuse everyone! Tee hee

just for fun mine would be "Wilkommen bei Muller Pizza service, Iher bestellung bitte !"

Imagine the look on the other end ...

I speak English on mine, too.
It makes me laugh to hear them struggle to get their point across in English *evil chortle*

That'll teach 'em with their "ve kann speeeek eeenglisch, it ees easier for you".

Most answering machines these days have a pre-recorded message. You could just use that instead of recording your own.

Yeh but what fun is that (using recorded messages).

More fun to watch the Germans sweat...how nasty!!

I'm with Topsy (good one BTW)

Wir sind im Moment nicht zuhause, bitte hinterlassen Sie eine Nachricht.
You guys are EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-vil!
When I had an answering message it was bi-lingual, mostly: If it's Friday I'm at the pub, ask for the camel-washer.

Pre-cise-ly. And it does have that effect, you're right
Besides which I think it's pointless doing it bilingually as it then goes on for far to long. And since more English-speakers ring who can't speak German than vice versa the announcement is in English.
Not that it matters whether the caller understands the message anyway: it's pretty bleeding obvious what you're saying.

On a related topic. These past weeks I am having problems with my automated answering service from Deutsche Telekom. Every second or so time I call the 0800 number the service is temporarily not available. Keep meaning to call DT and complain. Anyone else had this problem?

Yes, and to make matters worse it rings me up to tell me I've got a message and when I try to listen to it, the stupid thing says this service is not available! Aaaaargh! Why is it ringing me then?

It did my head in when it kept ringing me with messages. It was like some kind of lovelorn man. When I moved house this 'service' stopped without my asking.

Mine just says my name... Sarah O'Brien... and APPARENTLY this sounds like I am actually on the line and people think I'm hanging up on them... sound familiar to anyone??? However, I tried to change it but they only speak german on my phone so I dont know how to... so it will remain like that for now

" Sie haben das Recht zu schweigen, alles was Sie sagen wird von mir verwendet.."
i think it's funny anyway...

I haven't had an answering machine since I moved to Germany. My gf claims she's never had one nor does she ever want one...I'm still in shock.

Why? Is it a 'girly' thing to have?

why would it be girly?