For wanting callers to default to calling my landline first.

[slowrun]

I prefer receiving calls on my landline. There is much better confidentiality. Sound quality is better. I can hear the ringer better. We also have a good quality answering machine. I also have a pen and paper handy, can write dates down and check diaries.

When I take my mobile out, I could be anywhere. I could be running or paying for something in a shop. So I cannot always give full attention to the call. I'm ok with a quick question and of course in an emergency I'm happy to be reached by my mobile.

However! if I give my mobile number out people seem to default to that. Hence I don't often but then end up ringing up to chase appointments if I'm going to be away from home.

AIBU? How do other people manage this?

People are more likely to answer mobiles as they always have them. Every mobile shows missed calls too so you can ring back.

Only time i ring landlines is calling a business where i know they will answer

No one I know apart from my grandparents in their 90's uses landlines anymore. Our home phone isn't even plugged in anymore. Sorry no useful advice.

I agree with you, OP. I prefer my landline.

... I'm in my 40s.

Depending on your mobile you could set it up to forward calls to your landline when in your house. Just check your mobile instructions and it should be easy to do when you get in and knock off when leaving. You can then give your mobile number for appointments etc.

Can’t remember the last time I phoned someone’s landline . I don’t even have a landline.

araiwa but lots of numbers that call are automatically 'withheld'. So then you can't call back.

Minnie, the only thing is it would be a 'one stop shop'. I want to be able to answer my mobile for something which is an emergency. I would rather people not ring me whilst I am out to confirm things like appointments when I need diaries and pens and paper to hand. When I am out I am generally quite busy. I'm left not being able to check and relying on memory for any important dates so I have to ring back anyway. If they defaulted to my landline they can leave a message. It's just more relaxed.

I don't understand why you have a mobile phone or why you give out that number?
And if you don't want to answer it when you're out then don't? Then they'll have to leave a message exactly as they would have to if they rang your landline?

Sorry Minnie, I think I explained badly with my response there. Even if I'm out I prefer the default to be my mobile unless an emergency. People can leave a message and I can relax.

Lubey Araiwa I have always been wedded to my landline. I often don't know where my mobile is, and if I do find it, it is either not charged, or I've forgotten to top up my credit. If someone is stupid enough to call my mobile, I have to track it down to answer it, if it's charged. The only time I am really bothered about it being charged or having credit is if I'm travelling.

Isn't there a tho g u can set with your mobile provider to redirect calls to landline

Nack, I would be happy to give my mobile if people rang the landline as a default. I have no answering service on my mobile.

Of course people and companies default to a mobile number. People always have their phone with them even while out and about and there’s an automatic answerphone. Many people, myself included, don’t have a landline phone.

If you’d prefer people not to call your mobile then only give companies your landline and ask them to remove your mobile number from their records. Only give your mobile number to places like your kids school or activity leaders who may need to contact you in an emergency.

Just don’t answer your mobile if you're home. Change the mobile answerphone message to ask people to call your landline instead. People who genuinely need to get hold of you will do so, and you’ll weed out some of the marketing and scam callers.

Slowrun I can tell you my landline number. I can tell you Dh's and ds's mobile numbers. I couldn't tell you mine though, and I've had it 13 years!

No landline here. I always text people. It wouldn’t occur to me to ring someone’s landline even if I had the number. They are likely to be out or working or busy so mobile is the best contact. If they are unable to answer, they can pick up my text when ready.

To be fair though I’m rarely at home so no point having a landline.
I don’t often answer my mobile either though, so people leave messages. Works fine for me.

Glum I don't always have mine with me. I grew up and spent a lot of my life without mobiles, so I don't see the need to have one with me all the time.

I’m afraid it’s very old fashioned. Far more people would be angry if a message was left on a landline answering machine and no attempt was made to call on their mobiles.

The vast majority of people I know have a voicemail service which comes with the landline that they don’t bother checking because landline calls are just spam.

I didn’t even know people actually still used separate answerphones TBH.

They have to go with the medium most of their customers want and that’s overwhelmingly mobile.

Slowrun, you can probably set up and answerphone service on your phone.

If you’d prefer people not to call your mobile then only give companies your landline and ask them to remove your mobile number from their records. Only give your mobile number to places like your kids school or activity leaders who may need to contact you in an emergency.

That's what I do. However if people used some discretion it would be helpful for them to have both if my response is time sensitive. I also think a physical answering machine is more reliable than an answering service especially if you are in an area with very little mobile reception.

I always ask people to phone the landline as it actually works. Well, mostly. Mobile reception is rubbish and calls rarely get through. Messages can take hours to get through. I've asked about WiFi calls on my mobile but apparently I'm not eligible on my current tariff. Oh the joys of rural life!

Far more people would be angry if a message was left on a landline answering machine and no attempt was made to call on their mobiles.

That's the dilemma. However I prefer my landline for reasons I've outlined above. There seems to be no happy medium. If only people acknowledged the advantages of the old technology.

Need an answer phone? Mobile.
Need to make notes? Mobile.
Need to check a diary or save a date? Mobile.

Are you getting the message OP? Come on, join us in the 21st century!

oh god, yes. I try very hard to avoid people getting their hands on my mobile number for just this reason. Unfortunately, work switchboard are the worst offender. Despite me spending most of my time working in an area with no mobile reception. But will this listen? Argh.

Oh, and my main requirement of a mobile phone is to be able to hold a battery charge for a 52 hour weekend shift without needing recharging, if necessary. Not a smartphone going that can cope with that.