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?

I'm with you, slowrun. I rarely answer my mobile because I'm either working, driving or busy doing something else, like socialising or shopping. The only person who I regularly answer is DP, and he can be trusted not to want a long chat on the phone! I still give my number out to people like the surgery, hairdresser etc in case they need to cancel an appointment or something, but then I can decide whether to answer or call back.

We don't get good reception at home (we have 3 phones between us, all on different networks, and not one of them works all over the house), so the landline is much more likely to be answered in the evening than our mobiles. DP's siblings hate it, they much prefer to ring our mobiles, but that's just tough shit. I hate it when some of them spend family gatherings texting, what'sapping and fuck knows what else.

And no SIL, I don't want you snapchatting a pic of my sandals to some random I've never met to see if she thinks they'd suit you!

I recently decided to stop using a service provider - there were a few reasons but one was they kept insisting on calling me on the landline and never responded to emails. I think consumers are driving this trend with their preferences and it's unfortunate you might be in the minority on landlines these days

I think companies should use the method of communication the consumer prefers which may include, text, email, Facebook message, landline, mobile, whatever.

But I really think mobiles should be bottom of the pile, it's just encouraging people to use them when driving.

When I'm not near a landline, I tend to be either driving or at work and I can't answer a mobile phone in either of those places. With you on this one, OP.

I’m only near a landline after about 7pm at night, when I’ve got more interesting things to do than talk to people on the phone .

How old are you OP? I think this is a generational thing. I would find it actually very irritating for someone to ring my landline since I can’t screen my calls as easily!

In in my 40s. I've got caller ID on my landline, Themerry. Other people on this thread of similar age seem to agree with me. 89% of the population own landlines as opposed to 81% in 1985. Thing is, service providers often automatically default to mobile number if you give it. I would just prefer them to ask and to be able to trust they will honour my preference. I bet a lot of people just don't tAke the trouble to argue and either put up with it or just give their landline number out.

I own a landline.
There hasn’t been a phone plugged into it for about 3 years now.

89% of the population own landlines as opposed to 81% in 1985.

This figure is pretty meaningless given how many people have landlines they don't use or use once in a blue moon. It's common to be given a landline when you sign up for internet whether you want that landline or not.

And in 2000 95% of people had landlines.

Well more digging, I found those:

How do you use your landline?
For telephone calls only
10.52%
(187 votes)

For broadband only
34.55%
(614 votes)

For calls and broadband
42.77%
(760 votes)

I don't have one
12.16%
(216 votes)

Total Votes: 1,777
Comments (0)
Return To Poll

www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/11179482/Is-this-finally-the-end-for-the-landline-phone.html

It was an article about the a study showing a decline in landline usage. However the newspaper's poll (of nearly 2000 readers) showed nearly half the readers use the landline for calls and broadband, a further approximately 10% used their landline for calls only. So approx 50% using a landline for calls. Enough to be given a preference default choice by services, I would think. Even if landline use is a declining trend at the moment.

Sorry that should be approx 60% use the landline for calls. Duh.

No it shouldn't. Pah it's hot!!!

I don't think Telegraph readers are particularly representative of the general population.

They'd skew older and more middle class, exactly the group I'd expect to use landlines more.

You have to balance that with a bunch of younger millennials who barely know what a landline is.

Yes, but there are a lot of 'older middle class' people about. Why shouldn't service providers be considerate towards them? It doesn't take anything away from millennials if people were offered a preference in terms of the default number for callers to use. Everyone could express their preference as they wished. The service would run more smoothly with very little added work.

I've lost track why we've gone down this rabbit hole, but I'll plough on anyway.

Just because 50% of older, middle class consumers use their landline doesn't mean they want it to be their primary point of contact.

If would be nice if consumers could be accommodated with their preference, but it would add extra admin that I suspect most companies couldn't be arsed with.

Much simpler and more time efficient to have a one size fits all policy and like it or not, most people these days default to mobile.

i know we're going round in circles here, but if I were you I'd just stop giving my mobile out. I don't think you'll get far lobbying providers to introduce preferred contact channels.

I run a business and the problem with people giving landline numbers is that they then work the same 9-5 hours I do so they are never available for me to ring them on their landline number.

They probably think I’m extremely rude for not responding to their calls but giving a number that can only be answered outside of normal working hours is impossible. Most of them don’t have answer machines either. At least with a mobile I can leave a message or text if you are working and you can respond at an appropriate time.

But I am not talking about that, Truffle. I have an answer machine and am often home during the day. A blanket rule which is based on an assumption is unfair. When given a preference for the default it becomes the service user's responsibility regarding unanswered calls.

If would be nice if consumers could be accommodated with their preference, but it would add extra admin that I suspect most companies couldn't be arsed with.

One extra field on a form which would allow someone to be contacted much more reliably? How long does it take to check? You have to look to check the number anyway.

How many phone calls do you get in a day for this to be a problem?

but if I were you I'd just stop giving my mobile out.

Already done. As I have said throughout this thread. However I'd be more easily contactable if callers were willing to let me express a preference regarding the default and honour this.

I recently opted out of data use under the new NHS data opt out scheme. As the NHS and presumably my GP don't have mobile or email for me (I have needed my doctor once in 12 years... very very very lucky to be so well) I had to do it by post with a photocopy of my NHS number card.

My mobile company and HMRC text my mobile in order for me to see what they bill me - which is a lot more effort than just getting a bill in the post.
I am now paying BT or will be soon £36 a year to have paper billing. So far my bank doesn't charge me for paper bank statements but it will come to pass.

At last i've found my people! hate hate the mobile phone, so intrusive. Landline for me anyday.

Then slowrun just simply don’t give your mobile number. If you are so insistent on being called on your landline and have an answer machine and spend most time at home there is absolutely no reason to give your mobile number. It takes away the problem you clearly have such an issue with.

The problem I am finding is websites that do not let you proceed unless and until you give your mobile number. That is becoming very common and lots of delivery men like to text things. I don't like text as I always then need to cut and paste it and email it to myself and print it out whereas an email I can just print immediately.

How many phone calls do you get in a day for this to be a problem?

As I have said, I don't give my mobile out unless the person in question might need to contact me in an emergency. However, this has been questioned on more than one occasion. This thread was in response to that questioning. (I was beginning to feel a bit of an awkward freak) thankfully I am reassured lots of people feel like I do about this. Hopefully those who feel differently at least understand the reasoning behind preferring to talk to people on a landline.