Do you answer withheld/unknown numbers?

Xiney

A few people lately (and I've seen it on boards) have said that they don't answer them. Just wondering if this is widespread, and what are your reasons?

As a rule I just answer the phone if I get to it in time (it's usually zipped up in my bag, which is in the next room, and I trip over the cat on the way)

ChillyJilly

I answer all calls... I'm too curious not to.

And to be honest, I've never got a wrong number or sales call, it's always been people I know, and mostly (in the case of unknown numbers anyway) something very important (change of time with appointment etc)

nialo

Unless i know im getting a call that might be have there number blocked i wont answer it... the only person the i know that has a blocked number is my dad and i know when he will call.. or he knows to text me first!

if the number is unknown it not for me basically or i dont want to talk to them.

petes

I don't answer them. If you can't be bothered sending your number when you ring I'm not going to be bothered answering.

And why do people hide their number id anyway??

Oh The Humanity

I would never answer them.

If I think its someone I know who is using a landline then I let it ring out and call them back on their mobile.

Oink

God no.

There's 3 people I know who hide their numbers. Two of which I have no time for. So there.

Told the missus to unhide her number if she ever wanted to talk to me...

Orla K

My gran has been x directery for years, if I don't answer her calls she'll be annoyed with me. She go's to bed early so I know she wont ring me after about 7-8 and I don't answer blocked numbers after that time. I was getting prank calls for a while.

Love2love

I never answer them and I hate getting them.

If its someone I know, they know to text me first and then I will answer.

Ginny

Nope I don't down to ex issues.
My parents have a private number but if I miss a call from them a text will follow...:D

Maple

Yep, I don't know why people hide their number.

If its someone cold calling I can always hang up.

enda1

So many people block their numbers for business reasons.

Also if called by skype or some companies ip phones sometimes the number will be "unknown".

Also in an emergency someone may need to contact you from someone elses number which happens to be blocked!

Seems ridiculous to be so paranoid. What's the big deal with answering your phone, its not like the boogyman can jump down the line to get you!?

beks101

My Mum's mobile number is withheld sometimes because of her work so I generally tend to answer in case it's her calling.

More often than not though it's an annoying PR or business contact wrecking my head over something work-related and on withheld number because they know I won't answer if I know it's them. I hate sneaks like that! I also hate not having a separate work and personal phone

Creamy Goodness

considering i talk a lot to my brother in the states and he uses a calling card to call me his number is always "unknown" so yes i answer them.

Oh The Humanity

enda1 wrote: »

So many people block their numbers for business reasons.

Also if called by skype or some companies ip phones sometimes the number will be "unknown".

Also in an emergency someone may need to contact you from someone elses number which happens to be blocked!

Seems ridiculous to be so paranoid. What's the big deal with answering your phone, its not like the boogyman can jump down the line to get you!?

Yes but some people have good reason. Say they were stalked by an ex etc

I find anyone calling who is hiding their number is usually someone you dont want to speak to anyway.

Kooli

I understand those of you with particular reasons (an ex, someone you know who has a blocked number and you don't want to talk to).

But I don't understand it as a blanket rule - why the paranoia? Remember when we had landlines and we never knew who it was?!

Yes you may ask "well why would someone block their number?" but there actually loads of legitimate answers to that, and also other possibilities (it's not a blocked number on a mobile, but some other phone).

Or maybe I'm just too curious...

shellyboo

Yes, always. I've no idea why you wouldn't.

Oh The Humanity

Kooli wrote: »

I understand those of you with particular reasons (an ex, someone you know who has a blocked number and you don't want to talk to).

But I don't understand it as a blanket rule - why the paranoia? Remember when we had landlines and we never knew who it was?!

Yes you may ask "well why would someone block their number?" but there actually loads of legitimate answers to that, and also other possibilities (it's not a blocked number on a mobile, but some other phone).

Or maybe I'm just too curious...

But why would a stranger want to speak to me is my reasoning.

Probably because they want to sell me something or bore me or take up my time. I am not curious at all.

Its not like some stranger is going to have something to say you want to hear!

who the fug

Nope never, anybody who knows me leaves a message and I get back to them sometime

shellyboo

Oh The Humanity wrote: »

But why would a stranger want to speak to me is my reasoning.

Probably because they want to sell me something or bore me or take up my time. I am not curious at all.

Its not like some stranger is going to have something to say you want to hear!

The concept of only ever speaking to people I already know is bizarre to me.

enda1

Oh The Humanity wrote: »

But why would a stranger want to speak to me is my reasoning.

Probably because they want to sell me something or bore me or take up my time. I am not curious at all.

Its not like some stranger is going to have something to say you want to hear!

"Hi I saw your ad on at the paper shop with the picture of your lost dog."

"Is this Oh The Humanity?"
"Yes?"
"This is fire brigade. Please move your car it is blocking a fire hydrant. Luckily you answered or else this would have happened".

Oh The Humanity

enda1 wrote: »

"Hi I saw your ad on at the paper shop with the picture of your lost dog."

"Is this Oh The Humanity?"
"Yes?"
"This is fire brigade. Please move your car it is blocking a fire hydrant. Luckily you answered or else this would have happened".

lol I would never park in front of a fire hydrant and how would the Fire Brigade get my mobile number anyhoo!!!

Oh The Humanity

shellyboo wrote: »

The concept of only ever speaking to people I already know is bizarre to me.

On your mobile?

If some stranger rang your mobile would you entertain them?

georgem25

I answer all calls!!

enda1

Oh The Humanity wrote: »

lol I would never park in front of a fire hydrant and how would the Fire Brigade get my mobile number anyhoo!!!

Vehicle registration database?

I don't know, its an example! There are many potentially important phone calls you could get from withheld numbers!

shellyboo

Oh The Humanity wrote: »

On your mobile?

If some stranger rang your mobile would you entertain them?

Depends what they wanted. Bearing in mind that "strangers" include people who work in the bank, doctors' receptionists, potential employers, friends of friends, PR people (who I'd need to talk to for work)... it could literally be anybody. It could be Lotto headquarters telling me I've won. It could be my long-lost twin who I never knew existed. It could be anybody.

That's why I have a phone, after all, so that people can contact me. I don't see the sense in limiting that to people I already know - it seems like it would be limiting my opportunities.

I often have no idea where my phone is, so I often don't answer it for that reason.
But I'm perfectly capable of getting rid of anyone I don't want to talk to tout suite.
If I had ex hassle, I would change my number.

I used to have a number that people made up alot, and used to get all sort of crazily peed off people on the other end of the line.
I still never let it ring out.

Oh The Humanity

enda1 wrote: »

Vehicle registration database?

I don't know, its an example! There are many potentially important phone calls you could get from withheld numbers!

No the vehicle Registration lot don't have my mobile.

Nah, there really isn't. Its just stalkers and cold callers I reckon!

gingerhousewife

I rarely even answer calls if I don't recognise the number, let alone if it's a private number - if it's important, they will leave a voicemail.

Oh The Humanity

shellyboo wrote: »

Depends what they wanted. Bearing in mind that "strangers" include people who work in the bank,

Bank are not allowed to call you without your permission. I checked the Do not call me box so they have to write.

shellyboo wrote: »

doctors' receptionists,

Have that number saved so it shows.

shellyboo wrote: »

potential employers,friends of friends, PR people (who I'd need to talk to for work)...

They can leave a message.

shellyboo wrote: »

it could literally be anybody.

Exactly!

shellyboo wrote: »

It could be Lotto headquarters telling me I've won. It could be my long-lost twin who I never knew existed. It could be anybody.

Lotto doesn't have your phone number. Long lost twin? Leave a message!

shellyboo wrote: »

That's why I have a phone, after all, so that people can contact me. I don't see the sense in limiting that to people I already know - it seems like it would be limiting my opportunities.

Meh, if its important they can leave a message!

shellyboo

Oh The Humanity wrote: »

They can leave a message.


Lotto doesn't have your phone number. Long lost twin? Leave a message!


Meh, if its important they can leave a message!

Or... you could just answer and find out who it is. What's the difference in talking to the person and listening to a message?

Horses for courses I guess, but like... I just can't fathom not answering my phone. I see no harm in talking to a stranger for 30 seconds to see what they want.

Permabear

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shellyboo

donegalfella wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

*cough*

Permabear

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IvyTheTerrible

I used to feel very strongly about this, i would never answer unknown numbers. But now, for some reason on the telephone network I am on in France, my number always shows up as "unknown" when I ring anyone in Ireland.

Anyway, if it is a person you don't want to talk to, just hang up, no?

MizzLolly

Nope, I don't answer private calls. I think people calling off private numbers are a bit dense and I don't see the point of it. My parents' housephone is private and my mam will normally text me first so I'll know it's her.



(obviously I'm talking about people making standard mobile calls on a blocked number, not international calls or anything work/business related. In that case they can leave a voicemail)

Oh The Humanity

shellyboo wrote: »

Or... you could just answer and find out who it is. What's the difference in talking to the person and listening to a message?

Talking to a person might be longwinded and they might resist getting off the phone thusly draining a smidge of my precious energy! Plus worked in a call centre years ago but it scarred me for life twords talking to live people on the phone.

Just listening to a message you find out exactly what you want to know ie: who is it and what do they want.

shellyboo wrote: »

Horses for courses I guess, but like... I just can't fathom not answering my phone. I see no harm in talking to a stranger for 30 seconds to see what they want.

You have more patience than me!

Nevyn

I used to but then some farmer was selling a tractor and the newspaper in Cavan misprinted the phone number and I had about 8 calls a day for 4 days about it.

fonpokno

I rarely answer my phone. People text me instead of ringing me all the time. If I'm expecting a call then fine but other than that the mystery people can go away.

My mother has a private number and she refuses to change it because she doesn't want anyone to know her number or that it's her calling. She doesn't seem to understand that the other person will likely know her number anyway and will eventually find out who she is!

metrovelvet

Generally no. It's like answering the door without looking through the peephole.

SeekUp

I dislike the phone.

I'll call family to keep in touch, and I'll use it if I have to for work, and to make appointments, blah blah blah, but if someone said to me that I never had to speak on the phone again, I'd be thrilled. I try to keep as many calls as possible to the "I'm running 10 minutes late" or "let's meet here on Saturday" variety.

enda1 wrote: »

Seems ridiculous to be so paranoid. What's the big deal with answering your phone, its not like the boogyman can jump down the line to get you!?

I'm not paranoid, I just usually don't want to chat. So I don't answer the phone if I don't know who it is -- if they want to leave me a message, they're more than welcome to do so, and I'll call them back if it is something important.

Plus, if it's an emergency, they'll probably call more than once, in which case I'd pick up because I'd figure that something out of the ordinary is happening if someone kept calling.

Cookie Jar

Im terrible at answering any phone call.
Not that I dont wanna answer I just always seem to miss it.
I generally wouldn't answer unknown or withheld numbers.

Pherekydes

Thaedydal wrote: »

I used to but then some farmer was selling a tractor and the newspaper in Cavan misprinted the phone number and I had about 8 calls a day for 4 days about it.

LOL. Did you sell it in the end? :pac:

I don't answer withheld numbers for the very good reason that they are mostly from my partner's eldest daughter, and so not for me. If I answer she'll just waffle on for ages about stuff that I have no interest in. The others usually turn out to be cold callers, who I really detest.

Cathmandooo

I'd rarely answer an unknown number in work because I don't like taking personal calls there. Hopefully they leave a voicemail if it's important. At home though yeah I'd always answer an unknown number. I don't see why not. Just hang up if it's a stalker or something, easy.

metaoblivia

I almost always answer unknown numbers just because I'm curious. If I don't answer a call, it's usually from someone I know and I'm busy or don't feel like talking. They'll leave a message if it's important and I'll get back to them. But those unknown numbers, you never know, so I always try to answer.

RuthieRose

Not all the time... It depends who is about me when is happens. I always listen to the message straight after (Just too nosey). I get thick if they don't leave a message. If you have a private number then leave a message. :eek:

minidazzler

I always answer. Unless there is a crazy ex then there is no reason not to.

Fast_Mover

Nope, never answer them. If it's important enough, they'll leave a message.

pikachucheeks

Yup!
I want to know who's calling me!
If it turns out to be a weirdo, I'll just hang up.

Wibbs

Yep, I'm not paranoid and I do as I take calls from biz premises and exchanges that show up as unknown.

I have to say though in my experience in the majority of cases those who do have their numbers purposely blocked are mostly twats. Either people of massive self importance(where they have no reason to be) or neurotics(where they have no reason to be) or people you'll have a helluva time getting payment from in business. TBH when I see someone with a number like that I do go "oh here we go again" until proven otherwise.

Madame Razz

Nope. I never do.

I get too many sales calls and frankly I have better things to do with my time than even to answer and tell them to PFO. Also I had an ex issue previously; which is actually probably when I started to avoid answering private numbers altogether.

If it's an important call they will leave a voicemail and I will ring them back.

Generally the unimportant sales call time wasting type never leave messages.

entropi

I wont answer private number calls, if it is that important of a call they can call me back with caller id turned on:)