Phone numbers of dead people

Gael23

A person I knew died tragically quite recently. I have his number in my phone and even though we didnt keep in touch as much as we should have done, I cant bring myself to delete it.
Thoughts anyone?

4zn76tysfajdxp

Keep it as long as you're comfortable with, tbh. Sure I have numbers of live people in my phone I haven't seen for over a decade.

silverfeather

The network might end up eventually giving the number to another phone. So be careful your phone could accidentally ring it.

TallGlass

No need to delete numbers, unless I am updating ones in the phone book. As above, I never delete them have numbers from people I never contact.

Dangerous Man

silverfeather wrote: »

The network might end up eventually giving the number to another phone. So be careful your phone could accidentally ring it.

This happens where I live all the time. I get Indian dudes calling me looking for Sanjay or whatever the ****.

Slippin Jimmy

Dangerous Man wrote: »

This happens where I live all the time. I get Indian dudes calling me looking for Sanjay or whatever the ****.

How do they have YOUR number??? I not think it is the same thing at all.

DrGreenthumb

The number will be resurrected some day

Reati

Gael23

How does an operator know that a phone user has died?

fleet_admiral

I still have the number of a woman I went out with that died in 2006. Im sure the number has been re-issued

silverfeather

Gael23 wrote: »

How does an operator know that a phone user has died?

If it's not used for long enough it just will be re-issued automatically.

Samsgirl

Gael23 wrote: »

How does an operator know that a phone user has died?

Next of kin usually informs them when the bill comes.

Dangerous Man

Slippin Jimmy wrote: »

How do they have YOUR number??? I not think it is the same thing at all.

To be honest, I can barely understand what these people are saying, but it's always South-East Asians.

Mint Sauce

My gran died over two years ago. Whilst my uncle now lives in the house, and still uses the number, I still consider it her house, and cant bring my self to update my phone book.

I have a deceased relatives phone number in my phone. Feels too final to delete it.

silverfeather

I'm sorry about your loved who died op. There is more to it than a number perhaps. Do what feels right.

anncoates

silverfeather wrote: »

The network might end up eventually giving the number to another phone. So be careful your phone could accidentally ring it.

Jesus, can you imagine?

Gael23

silverfeather wrote: »

I'm sorry about your loved who died op. There is more to it than a number perhaps. Do what feels right.

He was a past work colleague and with the passage of time we drifted apart somewhat which I now regret but thats life. To be honest I had forgotten it was there until I went to ring someone to tell them about his death and i found it.

Silverfish

Think they recycle them from between 6 months to a year - it's 6 months in the states anyway.

Slippin Jimmy wrote: »

How do they have YOUR number??? I not think it is the same thing at all.

It could be the same thing, if his number belonged to someone who died.

sitstill

My Dad died 2 years and I still have his number in my phone. I couldn't bear to delete it.

Robsweezie

My mother lost her son, my half brother, in an accident 10 years ago, she kept his number and recently had her old Nokia phone fixed and recharged, with his texts still on it. It's a comfort to her.

silverfeather

Robsweezie wrote: »

My mother lost her son, my half brother, in an accident 10 years ago, she kept his number and recently had her old Nokia phone fixed and recharged, with his texts still on it. It's a comfort to her.

I'm very sorry Robsweezie. That's very sad. I suppose it's like a shirt he used to wear or something.

sitstill

sitstill wrote: »

My Dad died 2 years and I still have his number in my phone. I couldn't bear to delete it.

I still have my relatives texts too. I've changed phones but I have the old one and charge it the odd time to read them. As time moves on, I do it less and less. I wouldn't be without them though.

ETA I meant to quote Robsweezie's post but couldn't edit it in:

My mother lost her son, my half brother, in an accident 10 years ago, she kept his number and recently had her old Nokia phone fixed and recharged, with his texts still on it. It's a comfort to her.

silverfeather

sitstill wrote: »

My Dad died 2 years and I still have his number in my phone. I couldn't bear to delete it.

I'm sorry to hear that. Sitstill.