When the Private Number calls

ananas · 02-07-2010 11:12PM

My house phone is on private from years ago. Some stroke of genius of my mother to put it on private and its been like that since. People always ask me "Why are you ringing off private??" I'm not being shifty I swear!

-Corkie- · 02-07-2010 11:53PM

The most annoying man ever I know has his number on private and refuses to change it. Same man refuses to answer a private number:rolleyes:. I answer all numbers allthough i hate these fools doing surveys i hate them:mad:. The Garda Stations and banks all call of private numbers btw.

Gunsfortoys · 03-07-2010 12:03AM

SARASON wrote: »

The most annoying man ever I know has his number on private and refuses to change it. Same man refuses to answer a private number:rolleyes:. I answer all numbers allthough i hate these fools doing surveys i hate them:mad:. The Garda Stations and banks all call of private numbers btw.

Wrong, got a call from the bank before and its a direct line. You must be with one of those Nigerian banks...

bigtuna · 03-07-2010 12:10AM

I never answer private numbers. Main reason being it's normally work. If it's important they can leave a message.

ottostreet · 03-07-2010 01:24AM

i never answer private numbers. well, i rarely answer my phone at all.

i prefer dealing through text, as it means i can answer when i could be arsed to pick up my phone and communicate!

YouTalkinToMe · 03-07-2010 07:36AM

When a private number rings i stick my phone down my pants and say,Ask me bo**ix.

liah · 03-07-2010 07:48AM

Lol @ this "well sure back in the day nobody knew was calling who, you picked up the phone and dealt with what you got" mentality tbh.

Eh.. and? That was the only option we had then. People didn't like that. That's why caller ID was introduced in the first place. Also why it became so massively popular and installed in any modern communication device by default. We adapted to not knowing then only because it was the only option and we didn't have the choice to screen.

So what, exactly, is the point you're trying to make? People shouldn't make use of things that make their life easier, and everything should be a pain in the ass just for the sake of it because "that's how it was done in the old days?"

Don't think so, sorry.

Abrasax · 03-07-2010 08:40AM

liah wrote: »

Lol @ this "well sure back in the day nobody knew was calling who, you picked up the phone and dealt with what you got" mentality tbh.

Eh.. and? That was the only option we had then. People didn't like that. That's why caller ID was introduced in the first place. Also why it became so massively popular and installed in any modern communication device by default. We adapted to not knowing then only because it was the only option and we didn't have the choice to screen.

So what, exactly, is the point you're trying to make? People shouldn't make use of things that make their life easier, and everything should be a pain in the ass just for the sake of it because "that's how it was done in the old days?"

Don't think so, sorry.

You make it sound like it's such a major hassle and inconvenience to answer a phone.

To those who object to private numbers because it might be somebody annoying you don't want to talk to...what is it you're doing when you meet and talk to these people that makes them think it's alright to ring you in the first place?

To those who object to cold callers trying to sell you something... do you object as strenuously when ads come on the telly, trying to sell you something, or do you just press a button to make the hassle go away.

I've never been inundated by cold-callers, maybe once a week or fortnight, and I've never received a scam call, so maybe my perspective is a little skewed with regard to how much of a nuisance that can be.

mr j tayto · 03-07-2010 08:42AM

01-07-2010, 18:06 #6
thebigbiffo
Registered User

Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 367
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never EVER answer private numbers....a recent study showed that 99% of the time it's MBNA

HA Ha:D:D,your not wrong there my man!!!

mfceiling · 03-07-2010 08:43AM

Just don't answer to anyone at all.........in fact throw away your phone!!
Oh if it's important just leave a message and i'll get back to you when it suits me.........for fcuks sake how important are you that you can't take a call?
No i prefer to let my phone ring out then wait for a message........yeah

Mike 1972 · 03-07-2010 09:40AM

mfceiling wrote: »

how important are you that you can't take a call?

How important are you that Im expected to drop what Im doing (which could be anything from taking a dump to sleeping) to take your call ?

At least let me know who you are and I can decide. Otherwise you merit the same treatment as an attention-seeking child.

And if what you have to say isint important enough for you to leave a voicemail then it isint important enough for me to drop what im doing and and answer

Abrasax wrote: »

I've never been inundated by cold-callers, maybe once a week or fortnight, and I've never received a scam call, so maybe my perspective is a little skewed with regard to how much of a nuisance that can be.

I had two yesterday afternoon (and Im not even in the phone book)

Abrasax · 03-07-2010 09:52AM

So, the people who refuse to answer private numbers think the callers considers themselves important and vain and the private callers whose calls are refused think the refusees consider themselves important and vain.

We are trapped in a 'double bind'. Or is a 'strange loop'?

mfceiling · 03-07-2010 09:55AM

Mike 1972 wrote: »

How important are you that Im expected to drop what Im doing (which could be anything from taking a dump to sleeping) to take your call ?

At least let me know who you are and I can decide

And if what you have to say isint important enough for you to leave a voicemail then it isint important enough for me to drop what im doing and and answer

Does anyone ever call you or do they say fcuk it mike won't answer and i'll have to leave him a mail then he can decide if he wants to call me back if i'm important enough:rolleyes:

Mike 1972 · 03-07-2010 10:04AM

mfceiling wrote: »

Does anyone ever call you or do they say fcuk it mike won't answer and i'll have to leave him a mail then he can decide if he wants to call me back if i'm important enough:rolleyes:

What part of leave a message or dont withold your number dont you get ?

If you cant get your head around the concept then dont bother mailing either :rolleyes:

ananas · 03-07-2010 10:36AM

Gunsfortoys wrote: »

Wrong, got a call from the bank before and its a direct line. You must be with one of those Nigerian banks...

But Suh? I just need your sort code and we can transfer the monies.

GopErthike · 03-07-2010 10:44AM

mfceiling wrote: »

Just don't answer to anyone at all.........in fact throw away your phone!!
Oh if it's important just leave a message and i'll get back to you when it suits me.........for fcuks sake how important are you that you can't take a call?
No i prefer to let my phone ring out then wait for a message........yeah

The opinion that I have of myself is that, yes I am/whatever I'm doing is too important to be answering a call from someone who hasn't got the courtesy to reveal their identity.

Maybe if your bored/no work/lonely or if particular friends often call on private then you'll answer them. But not for me thanks.

When people call on private and then don't leave a message, it just proves I was right not to answer.

Listen folks if you deliberately call on private number, think of why you do it,
invert that and you have the reason people won't answer.

Odysseus · 03-07-2010 11:41AM

Abrasax wrote: »

I never understand why people don't answer private numbers.
Do they think the caller is going to put a curse on them or something?

For me it's basic security, on occassions I may have to use my person phone for contacting clients [a lot of my clients are involved in criminality], I don't want them knowing my phone number.

Edit: Doh, sorry read your post wrong, thought you where referring to why someone would have their phone on private

old_aussie · 03-07-2010 11:45AM

Odysseus wrote: »

For me it's basic security, on occassions I may have to use my person phone for contacting clients [a lot of my clients are involved in criminality], I don't want them knowing my phone number.

Yeah, they might make an offer you cannot refuse.;)

Mike 1972 · 03-07-2010 11:47AM

Odysseus wrote: »

For me it's basic security, on occassions I may have to use my person phone for contacting clients [a lot of my clients are involved in criminality], I don't want them knowing my phone number.

Surely if this is your line of work you would have a dedicated line/number/SIM for this sort of thing ?

Odysseus · 03-07-2010 11:54AM

Mike 1972 wrote: »

Surely if this is your line of work you would have a dedicated line/number/SIM for this sort of thing ?

Yeah right I work for the HSE. Some of the lads I work with would have work phones. I'm not entitle to work because the nature of my work means most of the time there is a landline beside me, I maybe be based in a few different clinics, but I always work form an office. The difficult is that something may happen on route, or I maybe be stuck at a meeting somewhere, or I have to cancel appointments from my home when I'm ill.

TBH I would not get a work phone, I have seen people get bills for the likes of 28c when a private call has been identified. Its just easier to use my personal phone on private number.

Odysseus · 03-07-2010 11:56AM

old_aussie wrote: »

Yeah, they might make an offer you cannot refuse.;)

I just don't fancy the 3AM calls that others have gotton after a court report was not to their liking or we involved social services due to child protection.

professore · 03-07-2010 12:15PM

Boskowski wrote: »

A bit of a pet hate of mine, hence the rant. Sorry. Here we go.

Not answering private numbers is surely a pretty paranoid thing to be (not) doing. Like Oh Dear I might have to interact with someone. Possibly someone I don't know.:eek: I might have to say to someone 'I don't want to talk to you', or 'I don't want to buy something from you' or 'fvck off'. I might actually have to say something 'real' instead of a fake 'How are you love. Glad you called, listen I was just on my way but I call you back, surely.'? How mortifying, embarrassing, humiliating, inconvenient. Seriously.

Very fvckin American really.

In America people now get caller monitoring. Like you ring that person and a machine talks to you first where you have to leave your name and intent and then press a key or something. So that the person being called can screen the incoming call first without actually having to interact with someone. I should actually start selling those what with the huge number of paranoids on this forum alone.

Pretty fvckin sad really. And very American. So no doubt it will be the must have over here soon, too.

Question by the way to you people not answering to withheld caller id's.
Do you only open letters with the sender firmly written on it? Surely most of those are trying to sell you something or are looking for money...

The only people who ring me on a private number are as follows (in order of frequency) :

MBNA (joking !!!)
Indian Outsourcing Companies
People looking to sell me something (e.g. investment opportunity with "only" € 100 K minimum investment)
People looking for "5 minutes of my time" to complete a 2-hour survey
A paranoid guy I used to work with with mental problems that I don't want to talk to anyway
Clients behind a switchboard who will always leave a message
Freaks and weirdos

Therefore I never answer them. End Of. If it's important leave a message. Otherwise .... you're one of the above. You decide.

As to the letters, you can open them whenever you feel like it. A call is intrusive, you can't answer it later when you have a chance. People have lives that don't revolve around your schedule.

professore · 03-07-2010 12:25PM

Odysseus wrote: »

Yeah right I work for the HSE. Some of the lads I work with would have work phones. I'm not entitle to work because the nature of my work means most of the time there is a landline beside me, I maybe be based in a few different clinics, but I always work form an office. The difficult is that something may happen on route, or I maybe be stuck at a meeting somewhere, or I have to cancel appointments from my home when I'm ill.

TBH I would not get a work phone, I have seen people get bills for the likes of 28c when a private call has been identified. Its just easier to use my personal phone on private number.

In your case you can always leave a message. So my rant does not apply to you.

professore · 03-07-2010 12:27PM

mfceiling wrote: »

Cannot believe the idiocy of people.........oh i wouldn't answer my phone to a private number or a number i don't recognise.

What if a relation of yours was mugged/beaten/raped or something else horrible had happened to them and a passer by gave them their phone to call you for help?? Oh i'll not answer that number cause i don't know it......genius!!

I know a guy who's mother crashed her car one winters night. Another car stopped and went in to the field to help her out. She was badly shaken and the other person gave her the phone to call her son.........he didn't "recognise" the number so he didn't answer. The mother was badly shaken and when it came to the "you have reached the voicemail of 086..." she hung up and handed the phone back.

What have you got to lose by answering........someone in trouble, a new job offer, a wrong number??
Who gives a shít.....just fcuking answer it!!

Hours per day if I answered every private number.

PeterIanStaker · 03-07-2010 12:28PM

I never answer them unless I know someone is going to call me off the landline.

Had a bad expeience a few years back when this head the ball was calling me from various private numbers non - stop. Long story short I had to get the Gardaí involved. Not funny.

Odysseus · 03-07-2010 12:35PM

professore wrote: »

In your case you can always leave a message. So my rant does not apply to you.

That is the one thing I always do, I hate people who won't activate their voicemail.

OxfordComma · 03-07-2010 12:39PM

I never answer private number calls. Meh, if people want to conceal their identity for whatever reason, then I don't see any reason why I should do them the honour of answering. They can always send a text/leave a message if I don't pick up.

soups05 · 03-07-2010 02:02PM

if work wants to contact me they ring from the landline and i answer. if they want me to come in at an earlier time,change my shift at short notice etc they will always use a mobile set to private.
thats why i dont answer private calls. it always ends up with me having to go out of my way to do a favour for someone else.

"cover my shift,i'm sick/hungover/heading to the pub/pissed off"

but when i try to get cover for anything i can't. i also can't say no when asked cos i'm a big softie (pushover)

if you want a favour then at least ring with your number showing so i can decide to take the call or not. :mad:

03-07-2010 02:20PM

Id rather take my chances with answering private numbers than cost myself money calling someone back who has left a message and really people don't leave messages.

I cannot remember the last time I had a message, I never bothered putting a voice mail message or anything like that, then again I checked my phone and in the last month and a half I have only 6 missed called, at least 2 of which was ringing my phone with someone else's looking for it ad the reason, yes you guesses it I'm not like a spoiled childed I press the little green button when my phone rings not look at it and come up with some reason not to.

Our man in Havana · 03-07-2010 02:33PM

I never answer private numbers ever. If they want to talk to me they can reveal their number or leave a message. Their choice. It's my phone and I choose who I speak to.

And if you have a problem with that, bite me!

When the Private Number calls

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