What do you do when an unknown/blocked number rings you?

Ethel

Cold War Kid wrote: »

I don't think answering your phone is comparable though - it's just a matter of pressing a button and then pressing another button to end it.

Im not sure I can get you to see it from my point of view. It is comparable to me because I would rather opt out of having to deal with any sales or marketing no matter what method is used. I just don't want to be bothered by anyone I don't know. Is that really too much to ask?

sligojoek

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Ex directory landlines show up as private too.

Whenever I see withheld on the landline I'm 99% sure it's my mother in law wanting to speak to my OH. I totally ignore it as we have nothing in common and I hate making small talk with her.

If it's on my mobile I answer it as I've nothing to hide and owe nothing to anyone.

Copa Mundial

I'll always answer a call unless it's an awkward time with work or that. However I do like knowing what number's ringing me before I pick up, blocked numbers are a tad shady!

efb

I answer it. But I'm a 35 year old man with no outstanding debts

PizzamanIRL

I don't answer any numbers I don't recognize (unless I'm expecting one) or any private numbers. Too many scam calls going around.

StudentDad

I have to agree with a number of previous posts. I will not answer a call that delivers the message, 'number unavailable.' Phone rings, I hit ignore. The caller obviously has my number, why is his so bloody precious that he has to keep it secret? If it's urgent a message can be left after the beep.

SD

Phil Mitchell

I used to ignore them but now that I am older and could do with the conversation I pick it up.

Joe prim

Strangers are just friends that you haven't met ( or in the case of this thread, received a sinister unidentifiable phone call from) yet! Simples!






And your computer may have a virus and they can fix it for you cos' they're from Vindows! Goodness gracious me!

Emsloe

I answer it in a vaguely foreign sounding accent so if it's someone I have no interest in talking to I can say they dialled the wrong number. If it's someone I do want to talk to my hybrid accent just became a lot more intriguing.

HughWotMVIII

People who actually get phone calls. La dee flipping da. Aren't you popular?

Titzon Toast

These days I just answer it. I've nothing to hide.

Kiwi in IE

StudentDad wrote: »

I have to agree with a number of previous posts. I will not answer a call that delivers the message, 'number unavailable.' Phone rings, I hit ignore. The caller obviously has my number, why is his so bloody precious that he has to keep it secret? If it's urgent a message can be left after the beep.

SD

I totally agree. I generally answer unknown numbers that show up but I don't ever answer withheld numbers. If they have a genuine reason for calling then they can leave a message and I will call them back, that is the price to pay for having a withheld number.

With the exception of people who are in the public eye or are/have been the victims of stalkers/violent exes, what genuine reasons are there for having a withheld number? At best they are just a precious dick, otherwise they want to sell me something I don't want, or at worst they want to be able to use their phone to harass/annoy people they know without them knowing who it is.

Mister Vain

I don't answer unless I'm expecting a call. It's usually someone selling shyte or my ex looking for her toaster back.

Gerinspain

I stand there looking at the screen going "who the feck is that" and trying to decide whether to answer it until it stops ringing...then I spend the next few hours wondering who it was and thinking I should have answered it.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

I won't answer/reject a blocked number
I answer a number I don't know

For Forks Sake

HughWotMVIII wrote: »

People who actually get phone calls. La dee flipping da. Aren't you popular?

Go and do an online insurance quote on 123.ie, they won't stop calling you from then on....

looksee

Same with Hidden Hearing, once contacted never let alone. Though I do seem to have got rid of them now, took a few times of being very abrupt/rude though. (I did ask nicely and they ignored it)

_Brian

Cold War Kid wrote: »

I answer it. I can't understand why people are so terrified of undisclosed numbers, but they are. Not sure what they're afraid of happening to them if they answer though. When there was no caller ID they just answered, so there appears to be something perhaps a little faddy about it.
If it's a cold call I just say "Sorry, I'm not free at the moment" and hang up. It usually is a cold call, but you can't always know. At the moment there's something up with my friend's phone so calls from her come up as blocked number.

I'm not terrified but don't answer blocked numbers or numbers I don't recognise.
I just hae no interest in talking to people in general in the phone and definitely not strangers. Oh, and I don't know anyone any way important enough to justify blocking their caller ID.
I have a phone so I can make a call when I want to, people ringing me is mostly an annoyance.

MistyCheese

looksee wrote: »

Same with Hidden Hearing, once contacted never let alone. Though I do seem to have got rid of them now, took a few times of being very abrupt/rude though. (I did ask nicely and they ignored it)

Yeah but they mightn't be trying to be rude. They might just think you hadn't heard them the first time.

LadyAthame

Kiwi in IE wrote: »

I totally agree. I generally answer unknown numbers that show up but I don't ever answer withheld numbers. If they have a genuine reason for calling then they can leave a message and I will call them back, that is the price to pay for having a withheld number.

With the exception of people who are in the public eye or are/have been the victims of stalkers/violent exes, what genuine reasons are there for having a withheld number? At best they are just a precious dick, otherwise they want to sell me something I don't want, or at worst they want to be able to use their phone to harass/annoy people they know without them knowing who it is.

The thing is if they are calling YOU then why? Unless they don't want their call to be traced or for you to have a record of it etc.

MattD1349

The worst ones for this I had were customer care from three. But because they were located in Asia they were calling at business hours in their time zone not ours. Lots of calls during the night offering me upgrades, broadband, discounts etc. The best part was I wasn't a three customer. Despite asking them to stop they persisted, despite telling them to **** off they persisted. So I kept them on the line, stringing them along, talking nonsense etc. Calls stopped soon after.

LadyAthame

An unknown number is different from a blocked one.

ballinasloex

I answer it, but I don't talk right away.. If ya get me :L if it's a number I know I'll talk right away sayin well or something but if it's blocked I usually let them speak first! Don't know why just a habit...

Mister Vain

ballinasloex wrote: »

I answer it, but I don't talk right away.. If ya get me :L if it's a number I know I'll talk right away sayin well or something but if it's blocked I usually let them speak first! Don't know why just a habit...

Like those tense scenes in the movies where someone picks up the phone and there's just silence.

LadyAthame

Mister Vain wrote: »

Like those tense scenes in the movies where someone picks up the phone and there's just silence.

thats why peeps don't pick up blocked nos!

lanos

The Backwards Man wrote: »

It tells me if you're not going to bother answering why should I bother leaving you a message.

In most cases:

Caller WANTS something
Wants to sell something
Wants to scam somebody
Wants a chat
Wants to borrow something
Wants to call around
Wants a date / bootie call

Or else is just a timewaster

Whatever the caller is, the common denominator is that the caller wants to benefit from the recipient.

The recipient does not need to feel privileged to receive the call.

For that reason Mr Backwards Man, you should leave a message

Mint Aero

I always answer, never know, might've won something

Mister Vain

I'm always getting calls from Vodafone when I'm in work. I'm always unable to answer and when I try calling them back I get a recorded message saying don't bother trying to call us back. Stupid fecking thing.

ToddyDoody

Blocked numbers... usually ****e myself and wonder why the blocker didn't work

LoganRice

I say hi who is this and then they hang up