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?

Last post to callmeadoctor.

Do you need a better mobile? Or a different network?

Totally appreciate that it might be that you live somewhere with rubbish signal all round; but my mobile quality is stunning, there's no awful noises or loss of conversation.

Granted, I'm wanting callers to use some discretion which seems to be too much

People are busy. People don’t generally want to be arsed thinking ‘does this constitute an emergency that means I should ring the mobile, or would the landline be preferable’ before making a call. Especially as different people have different preferences... ‘ooh x doesn’t answer their landline so I’ll call their mobile’, or ‘y always has their mobile switched off’ or ‘z only wants me to use their mobile for emergencies or questions that need an immediate answer’. It means remembering everyone’s preferences. People just want to make a call, and potentially leave a message if they don’t answer.

Anchor No, my mobile is cheap and basic. I pay about £20 a year or less on top up. No amount of expensive phone would make me want to fumble about trying to take calls to arrange appointments whilst I am busy out of the house. I don't want to pay more, really, either.

People just want to make a call, and potentially leave a message if they don’t answer.

Landlines do this. But if I could express a preference I can easily be more readily contactable if the issue is time sensitive.

It's easy. Phone landline. Not in? Leave a message. Time sensitive? Try the mobile.

But the point is, you prefer being called on your landline. Many people don’t. I have many friends with young children who’d rather not be called on their landline because it might wake them from a nap etc, but keep it in case of emergencies. They would always rather be called on their mobile (which they can choose to put on silent if necessary). You seem to think that because you prefer to be phoned on your landline, that should be the default option for everyone!
To be honest I only make phone calls if it’s an emergency anyway. Otherwise I send a text/WhatsApp/email and they can reply at their leisure. I’m mid 30’s so not generation ‘always glued to my mobile’.

Well, if you only make phone calls in an emergency, Soy, there would be no issue. I'm a decade older so maybe have been more used to arranging appointments etc from a landline where you can make a bore and check diaries more easily. I suspect I won't be in a minority, though.

Appointments no 'a bore! Although many of them aren't particularly exciting...

Maybe. This could all be easily solved if you said to people ‘I prefer to be phoned on my landline’ or ‘can you call me back on my landline’ though.

Soy Contact numbers often go on forms where there is no option to express a preference!

Then just put your landline number on the form? If you have an answer machine then surely that wouldn’t be an issue?

You can want to, but that's no longer the way the world works and unless it's people you know quite well, they're going to default to the new social norms. Which means ringing your mobile.

I'd remember your preferences if you were a close pal or family member, but beyond that it might not happen. And I'm in my 30s, ie old enough to remember the way things worked before mobiles. Someone who is 19 or 20 now could easily be in the workplace ringing people to arrange appointments etc, and the idea of people having landlines they actually answer might not even compute!

Then just put your landline number on the form? If you have an answer machine then surely that wouldn’t be an issue?

That's what I do. However, if there were an option to express a default preference I could be more contactable for time sensitive issues.

In reality though, how often are the sort of organisation who have contact forms (electricity supplier, council tax etc?) going to need to contact you for time sensitive issues?

they're going to default to the new social norms. Which means ringing your mobile.

That's an assumption. Who creates the normal? There are plenty of people who think like me. We have an ageing population too. If forms etc allowed a contact number default preference the problem would be solved. Instead we have a whole bunch of unhappy people fumbling about on their mobiles or missing out on time sensitive opportunities.

In reality though, how often are the sort of organisation who have contact forms (electricity supplier, council tax etc?) going to need to contact you for time sensitive issues?

Potentially quite often, if you have any health conditions which require treatment. Older people often do have an increased likelihood of health conditions.

If you want anyone to call you on your landline, give them the landline number, not the mobile. If you want them to use the mobile number in an emergency, give that on your landline answering service message.
I haven’t had a landline for years now, I just don’t answer my mobile if I don’t want to. They can leave a message or text.

1992 is back that way 👈🏻 don't forget to take your pager

I agree! If I an not at home to answer the landline then I am probably doing something where I don't want to be disturbed by something trivial - at work, driving, enjoying my hobbies. I know you don't have to answer it, but I feel I should check in case it is something important. If it isn't something important I would rather they rang the landline where I can answer if at home or they can leave a message and I can deal with it at my leisure.

Then if it’s someone who is likely to need to contact you for time sensitive issues (a hospital etc), give them your mobile number rather than your landline and accept that you may have to answer a call or two on your mobile that isn’t time sensitive?
I just think it’s a big issue out of nothing. I answer my mobile if it’s convenient to me. If it’s not, I don’t answer and they leave a message. I can either call them back when it is convenient to me, or they can phone me back if they need to.

We all create the normal. Which is mobiles. People manage their lives on their phones now, hence apps. There is a reason landline use is in decline and mobile usage very much isn't. I quite agree that a default number option on forms would be helpful, but you are kidding yourself if you think mobiles aren't the social norm now.

As for age, I find that elderly people often prefer mobile calls as they don't then have to get up. Maybe that's part of the reason mobile usage is so high in that group too, who knows? But then, someone who is 75 now was late 50s when mobiles really took off in the UK. Fairly young in the grand scheme of things. Some people who are well into their pensionable years now will have been using mobiles in the workplace.

As for age, I find that elderly people often prefer mobile calls as they don't then have to get up

My grandmother is 86 and prefers me to call her on her mobile, as it’s next to her rather than in another room.

We all create the normal. Which is mobiles.

But some of this is being foisted upon people. Life is better with a bit more consideration of service users. An ability to express a default number preference would just make any service better for everyone.

My grandmother is 86 and prefers me to call her on her mobile, as it’s next to her rather than in another room.

Granted, that can be an issue but I also know some elderly people who are the exact opposite.

You do realise you don't have to answer your mobile when it rings don't you? You can call back later.