Not answering calls from private numbers

Random

Some people just point blank refuse to take calls from private numbers on their phone.

Are they fools? Ignorant? I just don't bloody well understand it.

ntlbell

I never ever answer them.

bennyx_o

I rarely answer them, but my Dad and a few of my friends have private numbers for some reason.

Sam Vimes

i can understand it tbh. especially from someone who's been prank called a lot. i still answer them but i don't like them. i don't see any need for them unless its for a business or something.

aidan_walsh

The only people I know who do this have had enough experience with prank callers hiding behind private numbers to decide its not worth their time.

humbert

None of the people I know have private numbers and if someone else is ringing me it's usually to annoy me about something so they can go fuck themselves. If it's important you can leave a voicemail or send a text.

Why hide your number?

JohnK

Unless I'm specificly expecting a call then I'll never answer a private number. If they dont want me to know who they are then they can **** off if they think I'll answer.

curiosity

I suppose people have their reasons, however I think ex-directory numbers always come up as private. People ringing from private numbers should always leave a voicemail though.

Random

What if it's your mate trying to ring you from work? What if it's your mate ringing from another mobile phone that he doesn't want you to start replying to by mistake? What if someones ringing you in an emergency?

Nature Boy

humbert wrote:

Why hide your number?

Sometimes you can't help it. When I call people on Skype it comes up as private, or public phones or whatever.

But yeah, on you're mobile you'd need to be a paranoid freak to hide your number. Or else you're just a nob

KTRIC

I don't answer them outside of business hours. During the day there is the chance the person calling is from a company that has a phone switch with the number sending turned off. I can't really take the risk.

ntlbell

ciaranfo wrote:

What if it's your mate trying to ring you from work? What if it's your mate ringing from another mobile phone that he doesn't want you to start replying to by mistake? What if someones ringing you in an emergency?

He can leave a voicemail?

He can leave a voicemail?

He can leave a voicemail?

Goodluck2me

ntlbell wrote:

He can leave a voicemail?

He can leave a voicemail?

He can leave a voicemail?

eh hello, how are you. im about to get attacked/think the house is getting robbed. ring us back on 086 bla bla bla.... FFS they arent going ot eat you if you don tknow them when you answer then hang up...

_Kaiser_

Ex-directory numbers always show as private.

robinph

goodluck2me wrote:

eh hello, how are you. im about to get attacked/think the house is getting robbed. ring us back on 086 bla bla bla.... FFS they arent going ot eat you if you don tknow them when you answer then hang up...

999 was the number you wanted in that case, so why did you call me instead?

JohnK

goodluck2me wrote:

eh hello, how are you. im about to get attacked/think the house is getting robbed. ring us back on 086 bla bla bla.... FFS they arent going ot eat you if you don tknow them when you answer then hang up...

If it was that important then I'm sure they'd ring back

Ruu_Old

Don't normally answer them, if someone wants their identity hidden from me then I don't want to know about it. My Dad hides his all the time but I change it when I get the chance.

Crucifix

I don't have private number prejudice. I just never answer my phone regardless.

rannerap

I just never answer my phone full stop:)its usually work on a private number trying to get me to come in with no notice

Kojak

I almost never answer calls from private numbers. I always think they have something to hide by not showing their numbers.

phantom_lord

yeah i never do. just on the off chance that it's someone I don't want to talk to. sure they can leave a voicemail anyway.

mikemac

Had problems with prank calls in the past.
Never answer private numbers now.

People are too contactable anyway-leave a damn voicemail if it's important.
If anyone reading this takes their mobile into the gym and stops people from using machines, shame of you! My pet hate:mad:

And hey, it could be the local garda station-their number is always withheld for obvious reasons

Faith

Kaiser2000 wrote:

Ex-directory numbers always show as private.

No they don't. My home is ex-directory and the number shows up in caller ID.

I tend not to answer them because of years of prank calls. Also, none of my close friends or family have their numbers blocked, so if the caller isn't one of them, I'm not really too interested.

Sam Vimes

Faith wrote:

No they don't. My home is ex-directory and the number shows up in caller ID.

maybe its different in edinburgh but anyone i know with an ex-directory number shows up as private

Sam Vimes

ciaranfo wrote:

What if it's your mate trying to ring you from work?

he can ring back

ciaranfo wrote:

What if it's your mate ringing from another mobile phone that he doesn't want you to start replying to by mistake?

then he can tell you not to text it back when you answer

ciaranfo wrote:

What if someones ringing you in an emergency?

then they can turn private off

leeroybrown

I typically answer calls from withheld number but I'd probably be better off if I didn't as about 90% of them are wrong numbers, callers that hang up immediately or cold callers I don't want to talk to.

Zillah

To anyone who refuses to answer private numbers and doesn't have a history of being pranked/stalked: You're a spa. Grow up.

Tar.Aldarion

I am of the opinion of Zillah. And even if you are pranked a lot, is it not fun to waste their credit?

Myt number is on pricvate, no reason, just the natural setting. Nobody I know doesn't answer.

irishpartyboy

We didn't always have called ID on the mobile network, think it only introduced in 98. We always answered calls before then.

These days people are used to it and / or take it for granted, therefore I guess we subconsciously or consciously screen our calls these days to decide whether we want to take the call or not.

I actually used to get prank calls from someone who DIDN'T with-hold their number. Pretty dumb.

mikemac

Zillah wrote:

To anyone who refuses to answer private numbers and doesn't have a history of being pranked/stalked: You're a spa. Grow up.

Nonsense, and the majority of posters here have already disagreed with this.
You don't owe the caller anything-if they can't be bothered showing their ID, why bother answer.
They can always leave a voicemail

Only exception is switchboards which always blocks the ID but that only applies during office hours.

jimmycrackcorm

my freespeech.ie voip can't provide caller id. They say it costs extra to do but i don't believe that. Anyhow it is very annoying as i have the problem of people not answering my calls as a result.

humbert

Zillah wrote:

To anyone who refuses to answer private numbers and doesn't have a history of being pranked/stalked: You're a spa. Grow up.

Why should people have the right to decide if they want to talk to the person calling them before answering the phone. They should be accessible to anyone who wants to contact them and how dare they want to have a choice in the matter. :rolleyes:

cast_iron

micmclo wrote:

Only exception is switchboards which always blocks the ID but that only applies during office hours.

Depending on the switch (and the mobile), it would often come up as "Call" or else just the 4 digit extension shows.

I'd rarely answer private number (only when expecting an important call). Everyone I know knows as much, so they either show the number or won't get me. I don't use a voicemail either, but I would call people back when their number shows.

Random

Fine, decide not to answer the phone. That is your choice. I sometimes don't answer calls when I can see who's calling!

I just don't understand the blanket ban on private numbers, it seems a bit narrow minded or something.

Alter-Ego

Never has a call that came through a private number been important so i don't answer them. I like to know who i'm talking to, or about to talk to.

445279.ie

What did we do before caller ID - oh I know - we picked up the damn phone.

Random

Alter-Ego wrote:

Never has a call that came through a private number been important so i don't answer them. I like to know who i'm talking to, or about to talk to.

How often is a non-private number call that important if we're honest.

Frankieboy

Decided about a year ago not to answer private number calls. If it's important they can leave a message. Nobody has given a good reason for someone to actually put their phone on private. I understand some people cant help it, but there's people out there that do it on purpose.

cast_iron

ciaranfo wrote:

How often is a non-private number call that important if we're honest.

That's twisting it for the wrong reason.
When my mates ring me, it's never *that* important, but it does help to answer and organise basic social events - like meeting your friends, having a chat, etc. ie for what a phone is primarily used for! (for me anyway)

copacetic

Zillah wrote:

To anyone who refuses to answer private numbers and doesn't have a history of being pranked/stalked: You're a spa. Grow up.

rubbish, i never answer private numbers, it is always an employment agency or the bank. Or someone else who knows you don't want to talk to them.
I check the messages when it suits and call back if I want to give them my time.
no normal person hides their number.

as for the ex-directory thing, they do come up as private, but anyone I know well who has one saves my number with the 4 (I think?) in front to show their number. They do this for anyone they expect to answer..

Amalgam

I had a few 'silent' calls, decided then never again. I don't answer private numbers. Its a pity that technology has given saps and divvies the idea that they have a 'right' to abuse people. It is an abuse, one brought about by technology.

Combine that with Data protection etc and I feel the situation is in favour of folk that want to extend their ignorant behaviour through technology.

I had an employer giving out about it, but I made it clear. No Number=Not answered. Whenever I was needed, I was contacted with a number showing up on the screen.

copacetic

ciaranfo wrote:

What if it's your mate trying to ring you from work? What if it's your mate ringing from another mobile phone that he doesn't want you to start replying to by mistake? What if someones ringing you in an emergency?

he should get a new job for a company that doens't feel the need to hide their number or use his mobile like a normal person.

second is laughable

third, what kind of emergencies are these private number callers who are calling from work or a mobile they don't want me to reply to by mistake going to have?

"It's an emergency would you like a loan/new job/to do a survey"


normal people don't hide their numbers so when they call you in an 'emergency' the issue doesn't come up..

BrokenArrows

Ill answer any calls i get on my phone. But i hang up instantly if they are doing any sales crap or questionares.

Dont get any prankcalls except from the odd one from good friends which i dont mind.

InFront

Why would anyone refuse to answer a private number? I find it hard to believe that prank calls are this common. If you don't want to talk to someone, tell them you're busy.

My Dad has his number on private because he doesn't want clients ringing him back at all hours over every little thing. I can think of some other people who tend to put their numbers on private for no apparent reason, but I can't imagine why anyone would have a problem with it either way.

The only problem I can think of is explaining to these people why I would see it as an issue and refuse to answer the phone when they call!

cast_iron

InFront wrote:

I can think of some other people who tend to put their numbers on private for no apparent reason, but I can't imagine why anyone would have a problem with it either way.

Did you even read the thread?
There's 40 odd posts above telling you why.

JohnK

Its not about prank calls for me just that I have better things to do with my time than listen to inane drivel. If someone rings me then they can expect to be screened and anyone who does not provide a number gets relegated to the “unimportant calls” category which takes a lower precedence than scratching myself. I will decide who I speak to, not some random caller.

InFront

cast_iron wrote:

Did you even read the thread?
There's 40 odd posts above telling you why.

And I replied to the two most common reasons given. Again:

I find it hard to believe that prank calls are this common. If you don't want to talk to someone, tell them you're busy.

cast_iron

InFront wrote:

I find it hard to believe that prank calls are this common. If you don't want to talk to someone, tell them you're busy.

Well prank calls aren't - probably because alot of people just don't answer private numbers. Or maybe they are and we don't know!

Answering someone and telling them your busy can be easily taken to be a bit rude.

Sad Professor

I answer them on my landline but not on my mobile, unless I'm expecting a call. If a number I don't recognise pops up I won't answer that either. If it's someone/something important they'll leave a message, otherwise I don't care.

Dave!

Zillah wrote:

To anyone who refuses to answer private numbers and doesn't have a history of being pranked/stalked: You're a spa. Grow up.

Bullshi'ite.

I rarely answer private numbers or numbers I don't recognise (unless eg. I'm expecting a call about a job or somethin).

I've not been pranked ever. But if it's a private number, then I don't know who's ringing me, and it might be somebody I don't want to talk to (a) ever, or (b) at that time.

And if I answer it, then I may end up being ambushed into talking to someone that I don't want to

humbert

cast_iron wrote:

Well prank calls aren't - probably because alot of people just don't answer private numbers. Or maybe they are and we don't know!

Answering someone and telling them your busy can be easily taken to be a bit rude.

Not to mention that lying is bad!

Also if it's work looking to call you in at the last minute or some other similar less predictable obligation "I'm busy" aint gonna cut it.