Do you answer the phone?

[Plsdiscuss]

I had a call today on my mobile.

07....

I didn't pick up as I didn't know who it was. They didn't leave a message.

My friend told me I'm odd. And told me to ring the number back.

I don't think I am odd. If they want to talk to me enough, they'll call me back and/or should have left a message.

What do you do?

The same. If I don't recognise I don't answer. If it's that important they'll leave a message and I'll get back to them straight away.

I always answer the phone.

Do all people who's numbers you don't have need to call you twice? I understand not answering if you're busy, or think it's a spam/dodgy call, but not answering because you don't know the number is odd.

Yea, I always answer. Well, unless I can’t take a call for whatever reason as opposed to opting now to! DH and I run a business so I get a lotttt of calls 😅

No. If it's legitimate they'll leave a message

I never answer an unknown number. If they dont leave a message I check Who Called (or similar). Invariably it's a spam caller, who is then blocked.

I answer. I do then block numbers if it’s spam. But things like the time DH had lost his phone and I was being called because they could see me as his emergency number come to mind where it was useful!

What the duck is the point of having a phone if you don't answer it? Is it too scary to talk to people?

Of course I do.
But then I'm not a social recluse like so many on MN.

I only pick up if the number is recognised or if I'm expecting a call back.
99 times out of 100 it's a nuisance call.

but i hang up and block if they are spam

Definitely not - if it's important they can leave a message: if it's not, well they didn't need to ring! Weirdly I'd have been more likely to answer the house phone on the basis it might be some elderly relative but don't have those any more (neither house phone nor relly)

I only answer an unknown or withheld number if I am expecting a call from the GP or another healthcare thing. They usually withhold their number, so just have to take the risk and answer. I will also usually answer if a local landline number rings, but not always. Random numbers, nope. I usually go a quick Google and then block immediately. I get loads of spam calls from Glasgow and Aberdeen, no idea why...they don't appear to be a hotbed of spam call crime?!

About 10 years ago I actually changed my mobile number as I used to get so many spam calls. It was the number i'd had since I was like 13, so was a bit sad to see it go. It wasn't like I even put my number into many things, but I guess overtime the illegal marketing just accumulates and your number gets "out there".

Only if I'm expecting a call or recognise the number. I've read that if you answer spam calls then they will pass your number on to their friends because it shows that it's an active number. I don't even decline the call, just let it ring and then block. Perhaps I'm overcautious

I don't. I watched a program once where they can record your voice. So they can use it for scams, like identity fraud.

But tbh i seem to miss all calls somehow. Important ones always leave a voicemail

I only answer a call from a number I don't recognise if I'm expecting a call, or if it's a local area code number.

If I'm not expecting a call the chances are it's someone trying to sell me something or scam me, so I don't bother.

My friend didn't answer an unknown number and she missed out on winning 100 thousand pounds on This Morning competition.
If you answer and don't know/ like the caller.. then you hang up and block.
It might be a friend calling to say they have a new number.

No I don’t answer. Infact, I would rather everyone that knows me to only contact me via WhatsApp unless it’s urgent or an emergency!

Me too.

If they can't leave a message, it can't be very important.

99.99% of my calls that come through from random mobile numbers, or 0161 numbers which seem to be very common! I don’t answer as they are almost always spam. If they aren’t spam calls, they leave a message and then I’ll either call back or I’ll answer next time.

That’s a shame. Wouldn’t they have text or emailed too which they do for most competitions?

I answer if it’s a local number, in case it’s school/gp.
Mobile numbers I don’t, then Google to see who it is.

I was going to mention I don’t answer unknown callers for that reason. They just need a clear recording of a “hello” to commit some type of fraud. I can’t quite remember all of the details.

Presumably she knew she'd entered the competition in the first place, and that they'd be calling the winner at roughly X time on Y date?

I repeatedly ignored calls which my phone displayed as "suspected spam". After they'd called 3 times in a row I answered the 4th call very angrily, only to find out it was my dc's teacher calling from school. Ooops