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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Or are these phone calls really peculiar?!

89 replies

magnumicelolly · 28/10/2013 20:38

So a couple of weeks ago my phone rang, it came up as a private number. This was at 2.14 in the morning on a Monday! I answered it, a little groggily (it woke me up!) thinking there was a possibility it might be something important... well who phones at that time if it isn't?! Anyway, I do the standard 'Hello? Hello?'' Then as there is no reply think ah bugger it and hang up. Ok, fine, these things happen, phone put on silent and back to sleep.

9 days later (a Wednesday), phone rings again at 2.12. Pick up again in a bleary sleep. ''Hello? Hello?'' This time I'm treated to breathing noises! I respond with 'urrhh think you have the wrong number, night!' followed by hanging up and returning to snoring!

Last night- well, morning (Monday again), same again. This time I was already awake but missed it ringing- again at 2.14am. They rang again, I picked up and said nothing, thinking ok let the bugger rack up a phone bill! They hung up after 40 seconds.

Now, is this some sort of nuisance call from a company- has anyone had similar silent calls at this time of night? Although sure I heard breathing the second time! Or do I maybe have my very own insomniac stalker?! And if so, any entertaining suggestions for how I can get some amusement from the situation?

The regular and oddly precise timing to within a few minutes is just weird, as is the length of time between calls! Didn't really think much of it till the third time it happened!

I assume as it comes up as private number there is no way to trace it?

OP posts:
NicknameIncomplete · 28/10/2013 21:04

It may not even be a stalker. It could jus be a silly little teenager mucking about.

SmilesandSunshine · 28/10/2013 21:04

it is true you can give someone tinnitus and can be classed as abh if you deafen them as you have actually harmed them by doing that!

Please people don't do it, just hang up!!

magnumicelolly · 28/10/2013 21:05

Nickname, yes that's definitely possible I suppose! Although they are very organised and persistent to ring 3 times at the same time of day if it is some bored random! I shall see if the Monday/Wednesday pattern continues!

Sheldor, I also have an S2, but as I don't have the number I can't block it- it simply comes up as 'private number' rather than giving a number to block.

I'll have a look westie!

OP posts:
hiddenhome · 28/10/2013 21:05

I don't care if it's true. If someone was stalking me via the phone I'd be quite happy to blow a whistle down the phone. Wtf are you supposed to do with a stalker, invite 'em round for a cuppa? Hmm

SmilesandSunshine · 28/10/2013 21:05

hiddenhome Shock

SmilesandSunshine · 28/10/2013 21:05

No you should sodding well hang up like a normal person...

sheldor · 28/10/2013 21:06

Ahh right silly me.I'm not sure what you can do then as usually the phone operator tells you they can't block numbers.I had to litarly fight for them to block 1.50 texts a few years back and they wouldn't block a number for my m inlaw as it was a police matter.

Stropzilla · 28/10/2013 21:07

I wasn't a stalker. I think the guy wished he hadn't done it.

WestieMamma · 28/10/2013 21:07

Nothing like a bit of vigilante justice to warm the cockles of your heart.

hiddenhome · 28/10/2013 21:07

Being phoned night after night in the early hours of the morning and you're supposed to just "put the phone down" Hmm

hiddenhome · 28/10/2013 21:08

By, you're all being mighty sympathetic towards stalky through the night phonecalls Hmm

SmilesandSunshine · 28/10/2013 21:08

Unplug phone before you go to bed/turn off mobile might be a better plan??

SmilesandSunshine · 28/10/2013 21:09

Not sympathetic no, just not advocating potentially permanently damaging someones hearing, stalker or no.

Stropzilla · 28/10/2013 21:09

I know it's not likely but suppose it's a genuine wing number? Or they're calling from abroad? And if it is a stalker damaging their hearing isn't a great way to stop contact.

Stropzilla · 28/10/2013 21:10

Wing? Wrong!

bimbabirba · 28/10/2013 21:13

Are you seriously suggesting that a whistle down the phone can permanently damage someone's hearing and the CPS would press charges against someone for this
PMSLGrin

Stropzilla · 28/10/2013 21:14

Yup and they do.

sheldor · 28/10/2013 21:14

I kept getting sexy poses of young lady once.The same photo everyday.I'll let them know they had the wrong number,they aknowledged this in a text they sent me saying sorry etc and the next day they sent me the same old photo with quite a rude text Hmm I had to put that on block as they started ringing.Not heard a peep out him/her since.Must have got bored

ClangerOnaComeDown · 28/10/2013 21:17

I had this a while ago, it turned out to be a DexP, he would ring several times in row in the middle of the night and then wait an hour and carry it on again.

I ended up putting him on hold and letting him waste his minutes or boringly telling him every minute detail of my day..I woke up at 5.47, when I opened my eyes I realised I had eye gunk which was annoying so I walked to the bathroom but Dp's socks were by the door so I had to pick them up....

AgentZigzag · 28/10/2013 21:18

I think the posters saying don't blow a whistle down the phone at a stalker are underestimating the amount of damage stalking can do.

A stalker is asking for what they get, they won't get any sympathy from me.

But the crux here is that the OP doesn't know who it is, and most likely it's going to be a company who isn't in the UK.

Pintoe · 28/10/2013 21:19

I think there may be an option to use the do not disturb function, but allow your favourite numbers to get through, eg, family.

magnumicelolly · 28/10/2013 21:20

Ha ha sheldor! I did once get some really weird messages from a lady who was trying to text someone else, sounded like a really odd situation, must see if I can find them!

OP posts:
Stropzilla · 28/10/2013 21:22

No I do understand. It's just that I've been on the receiving end of the whistle and really it shouldn't be used. And if you do cause injury isn't the stalker going to just be a bit pleased to have a legit reason to be in contact? Of course we don't KNOW its a stalker. As I said, I wasn't.

magnumicelolly · 28/10/2013 21:23

Oooh, here it is- the peculiar text, that is! My phone number seems to attract oddities!

''Dear Gladys, can you please call me as a matter of urgency, you have broken our agreement and with Avi's advice that I am doing the right thing to have conscience, I will be breaking my oath. Regards, X''

I was dying to text back and ask what the oath was!

OP posts:
magnumicelolly · 28/10/2013 21:23

Ooo thanks pintoe, will look into that!

OP posts: