Caller ID withheld, do you answer these calls?

mikemac1

Well there are few different messages but ID withheld is the one I know, ya get the point

Me, I went through a spell of getting prank calls and they were often drunks in the early hours of the morning shouting down the phone

I don't who they were
But they sure annoyed me

So now I'll never ever answer blocked numbers.
Unless maybe I was waiting on a job interview or something like that, some switchboards of large companies can come up as blocked. So I'd answer those

During the daytime yes, at night then never sums me up I suppose

What about you?

chin_grin

Nope. Never. <listens to voicemail afterwards>

ElleEm

chin_grin wrote: »

Nope. Never. <listens to voicemail afterwards>

This!!!

lazygal

i do. My parents and inlaws are both ex directory so no number comes up if they call. I've never gotten a crank call from an unknown number, but fupping UPC are a pain in the hole for calling with a number displayed and no one at the other end when you answer.

stargazer 68

My mams home phone is withheld - can't fix it to show up no matter what we try. I know a few people who have that problem so yeah I do answer.

thunderdog

Nope I find they are often banks or some phone network trying to ring you to do a survey or ask you questions about your service. Ironic really that a phone company will ring you with caller id off

cloptrop

If people prank call me I just initiate phone sex with them.

kfallon

If it's a Sunday night and I'm about to get a major dose of the Fear then no fooking way!!!

Deus Ex Machina

I'm stalking somebody at the moment and I'm actually wondering the same thing. I've got their phone number (don't ask how) and now I'm calling them on and off to see if I can hear their voice, which I have never heard.

No answers yet, I even try to call a different times to catch them off guard. I might just have to assume they have a non answering policy for private numbers. This leaves me with the quandary of whether I should call with my number visible and increase my chances, but this also gives them my number which my cause complications later on in the stalking process...

bitemybanger

i never answer blocked numbers.
i also never return calls ive missed unless they leave a message.

tfitzgerald

Most of the time I don't answer these calls . I hate getting them

MarkR

Yeah, what are you afraid of? Not like you're inviting them into your house. Saying that, the inlaws are exdirectory, and so was my mother before she gave up the land line.

I've never looked at a number (or lack of) and though, hmmm, looks dodgy. Won't answer.

Mr Benevolent

Who doesn't answer private numbers? Come on, what are you afraid of? Phone Aids? People can't be that stupid, can they?

mickoneill30

My phone is a work phone so I answer them during working hours (and it's usually some company trying to sell me something). Outside of those I don't bother. Nobody I know has their number blocked.

partyatmygaff

Yes I do. I can't comprehend why people make such a big deal about private numbers. If someone's trying to contact me, i'll hear them out regardless of whether or not they want to disclose their number.

thunderdog

Out of interest has anyone ever received a very important call from a withheld number? Pretty sure I haven't

amacachi

How long until someone says they don't answer their door unless someone calls ahead?

mtjm

I do answer them, but what is so annoying if I get a missed call they don't leave message so I'm left wondering who f rang me,

partyatmygaff

mickoneill30 wrote: »

Not stupid. Just not desperate to talk to somebody.

How does "Responding to everyone who tries to contact you" equate to "Desperate for social interaction"?

Kali_Kalika

Dovies wrote: »

My mams home phone is withheld - can't fix it to show up no matter what we try. I know a few people who have that problem so yeah I do answer.

Call the phone company you are with - they are the ones who put the id block on your number - they can remove it along with the charge on your bill for having that service. It usually takes 2-3 days before your number will appear.

cloptrop

amacachi wrote: »

How long until someone says they don't answer their door unless someone calls ahead?

I do this , could be the tv licence inspector , hes a crafty devil. I ony use it for fair city . He doesnt wanna know.

mickoneill30

partyatmygaff wrote: »

How does "Responding to everyone who tries to contact you" equate to "Desperate for social interaction"?

I was replying to

Confab wrote: »

Who doesn't answer private numbers? Come on, what are you afraid of? Phone Aids? People can't be that stupid, can they?

How does not answering blocked numbers equate to "stupid"?

mickoneill30

partyatmygaff wrote: »

Yes I do. I can't comprehend why people make such a big deal about private numbers. If someone's trying to contact me, i'll hear them out regardless of whether or not they want to disclose their number.

Nobodys making a big deal out of it. Phone rings, person decides whether to answer it or not. I'm less likely to answer if the numbers blocked. No big deal.

Why do people block their numbers from showing. What good reasons are there for it?

admiralofthefleet

nope, never do

partyatmygaff

mickoneill30 wrote: »

I was replying to
How does not answering blocked numbers equate to "stupid"?

Hmm I wouldn't call it stupid. To me, it's just incomprehensible.

bitemybanger

Confab wrote: »

Who doesn't answer private numbers? Come on, what are you afraid of? Phone Aids? People can't be that stupid, can they?

Nobody i know has a blocked number so i never answer blocked numbers, if the call is important enough to leave a voice message ill call them back.

mickoneill30

partyatmygaff wrote: »

Hmm I wouldn't call it stupid. To me, it's just incomprehensible.

To me the only people who have ever called with blocked numbers have been sales people.

Agricola

Landlines may be a different matter, but people who purposely block their mobile number dont deserve to be answered. The few people I know who do this are usually the ones who I would rather not answer given the choice! They know that and try to ring anonymously. If its important Ill get the message and ring back, if not, no loss.

amacachi

cloptrop wrote: »

I do this , could be the tv licence inspector , hes a crafty devil. I ony use it for fair city . He doesnt wanna know.

20th reply, quicker than usual :P

Plazaman

thunderdog wrote: »

Out of interest has anyone ever received a very important call from a withheld number? Pretty sure I haven't

Strangely enough I have. MBNA called me to tell me someone had skimmed my card and charged over €1,000 to my account. Their number was withheld and only for the phone was beside me and I picked it up instinctively I would never have known (ahem... well except for the message they also left on my mobile). Still.

On the other hand I was getting at least 2 calls a day for about 3 weeks from a 1800 number and as I was out of the house for most they never left a message. A quick google of the number revealed it was Sky. Persistant fellows, they eventually gave up probably to due to my superior tactics of stealthily non answering the phone (aka going to work).

lizzybradbury

I definitely listen to the voicemail after the person has rung off - If they're not a company but a friend they leave a message if they are someone you don't know/company then they won't - simple as that for me!

Plus, I feel a bit safer knowing that no randomer can get me on the phone..

mconigol

Sometimes but I don't feel under any obligation to.

cloptrop

If ikts a salesman or a stalker why not just hang up? You dont have to be polite and chat. ust press the red button most mobiles are now equiped with.

Fiona

No I don't bother if they want me they can leave a message and I will get back to them at a time when it suits me.

Mr. Presentable

Confab wrote: »

Who doesn't answer private numbers? Come on, what are you afraid of? Phone Aids? People can't be that stupid, can they?

It might be my mother. So I never answer number withheld. If you don't want me to know who you are why are you calling me? So I don't answer

Always, I cant stand not knowing who rang me. If I have a missed call from unknown number I'd end spending the next while wondering who called me and trying to figure out who it might be, it wrecks my head so I always answer.

Also our home phone is withheld as are some phones from places where different family members work.

I never leave my desk, even to make a cup of tea or leave a room without my phone either, I'm a bit ocd about never being without it tbh, I also never turn it off.

Dudess

Yep, always do. You never know who it could be. Yeah it's usually cold-calling, in which case I hang up - no biggie.

Might be something important too - e.g. a company phoning to advise you haven't paid in a while. Now I know many folks take issue with this appalling conduct (imagine - a company looking for money they're owed! Bastards!) but I'd wager a lot of the same folks who whinge about this would be the very people who'd also whinge about a company not reminding them to pay.

Sar_Bear

Nope, never! If it's important they'll leave a message and a number for me to call them back. Went through a phase when I was younger or getting prank private number calls constantly, haven't answered em since!

Dravokivich

Dovies wrote: »

My mams home phone is withheld - can't fix it to show up no matter what we try. I know a few people who have that problem so yeah I do answer.

The problem with my phone is that it doesn't know it's actual number. Same thing with one of my mates.

chin_grin wrote: »

Nope. Never. <listens to voicemail afterwards>

Can't stand VMs, don't check'em and don't leave'em. If it rings out when I try to call someone I'll send a txt after.

But if someone purposely diverts me to VM, fúck'em would be my opinion.

wilkie2006

Dovies wrote: »

My mams home phone is withheld - can't fix it to show up no matter what we try. I know a few people who have that problem so yeah I do answer.

That's a perfect excuse not to answer the phone to her though!

"Ah, sorry I missed you earlier... thought it was telemarketer"

Is it just me or are girlfriends and parents the main ones people screen calls from?

SteoL

mikemac1 wrote: »

Well there are few different messages but ID withheld is the one I know, ya get the point

Me, I went through a spell of getting prank calls and they were often drunks in the early hours of the morning shouting down the phone

I don't who they were
But they sure annoyed me

So now I'll never ever answer blocked numbers.
Unless maybe I was waiting on a job interview or something like that, some switchboards of large companies can come up as blocked. So I'd answer those

During the daytime yes, at night then never sums me up I suppose

What about you?

Never. Nor do I answer a displayed number if I don't know it unless expecting a call.

wilkie2006

wilkie2006 wrote: »

Is it just me or are girlfriends and parents the main ones people screen calls from?

Why would people screen calls from parents, I would never ever not answer one of my parents, its a poor reflection on a person who wont talk to their parents imo. I'm on the phone to one or other of them almost every day for one reason or another.

wilkie2006

Gary Savory Gingersnap wrote: »

Why would people screen calls from parents, I would never ever not answer one of my parents, its a poor reflection on a person who wont talk to their parents imo. I'm on the phone to one or other of them almost every day for one reason or another.

Ah, just because they can be a bit of a nuisance sometimes. It's not like I don't talk to them regularly... I'm just not interested in hearing a dispassionate list of everything they did that day.

Teyla Emmagan

Never, I am far too busy and important to be answering the phone to time wasting randomers who only want a piece of me*.



* Except when it's my Mam, but she always rings at the same time anyway, so it's not that hard to figure out when it's the house at home calling.

Rothko

No, I never do.

If someone prank calls you just put down the phone but don't hang up. They'll just be using up their credit while talking to themselves.

Carstuck

I always answer the phone whether number is private or not. I don't see the point in not answering because what difference does it make if I know their number? Once you pick up the phone you know who it is anyway! Hate the tought of not knowing who it was if I didn't answer and they leave no message!

rgmmg

cloptrop wrote: »

If people prank call me I just initiate phone sex with them.

What's the number?

token101

I don't ever get idiots who say this! People can't hurt you through the phone! What if it was your family member in trouble for some reason and happened to call off a private number? It's a stupid f***ing idea to just not answer. If you don't like the caller, hang up!

Fluorescence

Normally I wouldn't, but lately I am in case one of them is a phone call about a job interview. It never is though. It's always some drunk bastard with the wrong number

mickoneill30

token101 wrote: »

I don't ever get idiots who say this! People can't hurt you through the phone! What if it was your family member in trouble for some reason and happened to call off a private number? It's a stupid f***ing idea to just not answer. If you don't like the caller, hang up!

:rolleyes:
Sure yeah, do you run to the phone every time it rings in case a family member is in trouble?
If they're in big trouble 999 works unless they call screen too.

super_furry

Of course I do. It's not like I'm going to be mugged over the phone.

If I don't want to talk to whoever it is, I hang up.