withheld/unknown number

15-10-2009 04:07PM

sunflower27 wrote: »

I know plenty of people that dont answer calls from numbers they don't know. In my case I'd had a nasty split and was concerned it was an ex. After I ignored it for a few days (there was never any message left) I decided that they would probably just give up - they didnt and eventually I just answered it. It was the bank and I was relieved.

I dont think my reaction was overly strange at all. Of course once I knew it was the bank I felt silly but I was (I thought) protecting myself.

But so what if it is? Just hang up. I'm not getting the whole fear thing here. It's only a phone. And I'm someone who has had strange phone calls from weirdos. Surely the possibility of missing out on a job interview is far greater than the possibility of something terrible happening from answering the phone.

shellyboo · 15-10-2009 04:13PM

sunflower27 wrote: »

I dont think my reaction was overly strange at all. Of course once I knew it was the bank I felt silly but I was (I thought) protecting myself.

Protecting yourself from what, though? An awkward phone call, at worst, as far as I can see.

herya · 15-10-2009 04:19PM

sunflower27 wrote: »

That's harsh. Constant ringing and no message left is weird. Especially if it goes on for a week or more.

She cannot know it's one person at all. It might be half a dozen different institutions trying to contact her, loads of companies have their switchboards block numbers.

kittenkiller · 15-10-2009 04:27PM

sunflower27 wrote: »

I know plenty of people that dont answer calls from numbers they don't know. In my case I'd had a nasty split and was concerned it was an ex. After I ignored it for a few days (there was never any message left) I decided that they would probably just give up - they didnt and eventually I just answered it. It was the bank and I was relieved.

I dont think my reaction was overly strange at all. Of course once I knew it was the bank I felt silly but I was (I thought) protecting myself.

Were you handing out CV's with your phone number on them at the time though?

From what the OP said as well, it doesn't seem to be constant calls,

OP wrote:

I've not answered about 10 - 15 call in the past two weeks.

That's not too barely even two a day at the high end of the estimation.

OP needs to get a grip.

(I'm female too by the way).

RossFixxxed · 15-10-2009 05:18PM

I'm not female by the way.

What was the relevance of saying that, it's just a phone call. And if you gave out a CV and then the calls started... 1 + 1 = SERIAL KILLER it would seem.

I'm naturally stupidly paranoid, but even for me this is a little OTT!

LegacyUser · 15-10-2009 07:23PM

OP here.

This only happen as soon as the guy who I think it is got my number. And it is usually outside of business hours so unlikely to be about a job. And in my experience if it was a business call a message would be left. If this guy was not in the picture I wouldn't be avoiding calls. I don't think it is unreasonable to try to avoid call from a potential odd ball/weirdo. Like I said I'm not going into details on a forum.

wylo · 15-10-2009 07:24PM

OP you have to stop avoiding the calls. A recruitment agency is only going to ring so many times. why do I get the feeling were not getting the whole thing here, i.e. you want to find how to see whos ringing you because your avoiding someone. Fair enough but is there a real reason your avoiding them? Just answer once and if they keep at it threaten them with guards.
And if it keeps going on after that then actually go to the guards.

15-10-2009 11:22PM

OP OP wrote: »

OP here.

This only happen as soon as the guy who I think it is got my number. And it is usually outside of business hours so unlikely to be about a job. And in my experience if it was a business call a message would be left. If this guy was not in the picture I wouldn't be avoiding calls. I don't think it is unreasonable to try to avoid call from a potential odd ball/weirdo. Like I said I'm not going into details on a forum.

But has he actually called/stalked you? All I'm getting from your posts is paranoia. I think it is rather extreme to ignore every call from a private number just in case a weirdo decided to call.

wolfric · 16-10-2009 12:42AM

Looks it about time to put a STOP to this charade. EVERYONE'S giving you the same message. You've got their opinion and 3 pages of it. You've got the facts you know the options now DECIDE.

You're options are as follows.

Answer it
Give it to someone else to answer.
Don't answer it and leave it ring off.
Call up your provider and block this "uknown number" (if possible)

What else do you want us to say?

Look you sound like you're in the stage where you're chickening out. Like when you knew you had to jump off a cliff to save your life but you still hesitate. If it helps, Make out a list of each options pros and cons and see what you can deal with. If it's too hard, show the options to a real life friend or relative and get them to deal with it.

mood · 16-10-2009 09:48AM

God I can't believe the stick this girl is getting. People are being very harsh without knowing the full situation - she has said she doesn't want to post the details about this fella so IMO there must be a lot more to the story. God knows what he is like or what has happened to make her want to avoid him so much!

Having said that if I was me I would get male friend/brother/dad to answer and see how that plays out. If it continues and you genuinely feel harassed call the Guards.

I don't think a mobile phone provider can/will trace call for you.

16-10-2009 09:49AM

Credit card companies and banks.

Ulster bank use a +44 number, most other banks use a blocked number, in my experience.

martdalto · 16-10-2009 10:14AM

104494431 wrote: »

Credit card companies and banks.

Ulster bank use a +44 number, most other banks use a blocked number, in my experience.

+ Mobile Phone companies

OP, a few years ago someone got my number who I didn't want to have it. A perfectly innocent harmless fella. But I answered once or twice, and if I spoke to him he'd ring back again almost immediately. Absolutely nothing sinister, just not the full shilling.

After a while I had to start avoiding his number, or any other numbers I wasn't sure about. This went on for months. In the end I had to get my husband to answer and say it was a wrong number - even though it obviously wasn't! He then got his UNCLE to ring from another number, straight away.. When my husband answered he said "this is XXX's uncle is this [martdalto]'s number?" Husband said, "No sorry wrong number", that was the end of it.

Have you actually answered ANY of the calls, and discovered that it WAS this fella?

If not, then yes you have a right to be wary, but you are possibly completely over-reacting. It could be anyone.. bank, credit card, mobile phone, business etc. My mobile company if they're ever looking for me rarely ring between 9 and 5! And always from a private number.

Get someone to answer it for you - if it's yer man - say "Sorry wrong number"

If it's someone genuine, they can just pass the phone to you.

16-10-2009 10:18AM

mood wrote: »

God I can't believe the stick this girl is getting. People are being very harsh without knowing the full situation - she has said she doesn't want to post the details about this fella so IMO there must be a lot more to the story. God knows what he is like or what has happened to make her want to avoid him so much!

She should have posted the story, then. Saying you don't want to give details is fine, but how are people supposed to give advice without any facts?

moviesrme · 16-10-2009 11:09AM

If TV is anything to go by it could be yourself. Remember the twilight zone episode where the guy answers the phone and its himself. For some reason it scared the bejesus out of me.;)

ibarelycare · 16-10-2009 11:28AM

[quote=[Deleted User];62561216]She should have posted the story, then. Saying you don't want to give details is fine, but how are people supposed to give advice without any facts?[/quote]

+1

The OP is just doing some major speculation. She doesn't know who is ringing her. She needs to grow up and answer the phone! It's not that difficult and it's not going to do her any harm :rolleyes:

kittenkiller · 16-10-2009 11:38AM

If the OP answers her phone the very next time it rings from a withheld number, and it turns out to ruin her life, I for one will retract any posts where the subtext might read "Grow up", and offer a full apology for not taking her dilemma seriously enough.

RossFixxxed · 16-10-2009 11:51AM

Unless you've read 'Cell' by Stephen King... It could happen right? Look the OP never gave us any detail and is being OVERLY paranoid about answering a phone... Unless it's Eagle Eye...You see where I'm going.

anewme · 18-10-2009 12:08AM

Is your Bank AIB by the way. If so, they are doing sales calls at the moment which come from private number. I had 15 missed calls at various times with no messages left. I did not avoid the calls, I was just in the gym/shops when they phoned.

I usually make a point of not answering private numbers. Not because I am paranoid, etc, but because it is usally someone selling me something. Way I see it, anyone who I want to have my number has it, if they cant get me, they leave a message and I will get back to them. If I am left a message from someone selling something, I wont get back to them if I am not interested in what they are selling.

OP, I would not think it is a recruitment agency, they would leave a message. Next time they ring, answer, if it is someone you dont want to speak to, just say, cant hear you, must be a bad connection and hang up.

At least then you know if you have a problem or not, and what if anything needs to be done.

wolfric · 18-10-2009 12:32AM

already been mentioned but this thread is 2 days old. I'm sure if the op still had issues she'd reply back

anewme · 18-10-2009 12:40AM

wolfric wrote: »

already been mentioned but this thread is 2 days old. I'm sure if the op still had issues she'd reply back

Would not be too sure of that. OP said calls were coming in over a number of weeks before she posted on here. She might still have not answered the phone.

LegacyUser · 18-10-2009 01:16AM

I'm also currently looking for a job and have applied to through various recruitment agencies. The vast majority of them call me with private numbers (I've no idea why) but you could be losing the possibility of a job over this needless fear.

Answer the phone!!!

LegacyUser · 18-10-2009 01:55PM

Sorry but I don't think recruitment agencies would be ringing me at night time or at weekends!

I did answer the phone twice. Each time nobody would speak but I could hear background noise like a cafe or TV. I got a male friend to answer and the person hung up. I've got a new sim card and have spent the morning going through my e-mails to contact companies I have send cv to.

I be honest I think a lot of people here have been horrible to me and I won't be posting again.

Zaph · 18-10-2009 02:43PM

moviesrme wrote: »

If TV is anything to go by it could be yourself. Remember the twilight zone episode where the guy answers the phone and its himself. For some reason it scared the bejesus out of me.;)

If that's the most useful advice you can offer maybe PI isn't the forum for you. Please read the part of the charter dealing with unhelpful posts before offering any further advice.

OP again >> wrote: »

I be honest I think a lot of people here have been horrible to me and I won't be posting again.

OP, I fail to see where people have been horrible to you, but if you have any issues with a particular post please use the report post button in future.

withheld/unknown number

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