Think you hate potholes?

Meet Josh Lafferty.

Over the past year, his cellphone has been buzzing with angry callers wanting to know what he's going to do about all the potholes plaguing Des Moines.

In a word: nothing.

Lafferty became the guy to call last winter after multiple news sites mistakenly included a wrong number for reporting potholes.

But Lafferty doesn't work for the city — he's an insurance agent — and he doesn't run a patching service on the side.

The number published on DesMoinesRegister.com and WHO-TV's website wasn't Lafferty's cellphone, but calls to it are somehow being redirected his way.

“It’s never a positive phone call,” he said.

The mistake was repeated two weeks ago in a Star 102.5 FM Facebook post, sparking a renewed round of angry phone calls.

“I’m just tired of hearing about potholes,” he said. “I don’t even want to hear the word ever again.”

►More:After more than 1,000 complaints, Des Moines to nearly triple efforts to fill potholes

Des Moines Public Works has fielded more than 1,000 pothole complaints following a particularly harsh winter, Public Works Director Jonathan Gano said.

The department has nearly tripled the number of crews making patches this week, concentrating on the city's 750 miles of snow routes.

Lafferty said he has tried to get the issue fixed without any luck. Now, he just lets the calls go to his voicemail, which he deletes on a regular basis.

“There’s probably a lot of pissed-off people around the city wondering why they’re not hearing anything back about their potholes because I’m not going to do anything for them,” he said.

The article on DesMoinesRegister.com was updated in March of last year. Executive Producer Dan Hendrickson said the article on WHOTV.com was corrected Wednesday. The correct number was shown on air, he said.

A person who answered the phone at Star 102.5 FM said the station would look into the matter. The post was later deleted.

Gano said the number leading callers to Lafferty's cellphone is not a city-owned telephone number.

The correct number to report potholes in Des Moines is 515-283-4950. It's also printed on the side of every garbage can in the city, in case anyone forgets, Gano said.

Reporting a pothole

The Des Moines Public Works Department sets a goal to respond to and patch any potholes reported by residents within 48 hours.

Anyone can report a pothole by calling 515-283-4950 or by filling out an online form at j.mp/dsmpotholes.

Residents can also file pothole complaints and access a slew of free services using the city's myDSMmobile app. It's available for Apple and Android devices.