To not answer 'no caller ID' calls?

[weekendsleep]

Bit of background- dated a guy over 2yrs age now. He didn't get very nice towards the end and would try and get me to sleep with his friends etc (which I obviously didn't and so I left him) I was newly 20 at the time so quite young still with little dating experience.

The entire first year after we broke up he would all me using no caller ID literally tens of times a day. I know it was him as I answered a few and he'd say it was him etc then just breathe down the phone (at one point I thought he may have been masturbating each time). Creepy I know.

I stopped answering after around 8 calls and basically left it as that and ignored any others that came in, they continued regularly for a while then have lessened as the 2 years passed.

Thinking back I should have changed my number but didn't want my parents to worry about me and they didn't know much about him as I was living away from home at uni in London, plus they paid my phone bill so would have known if I had requested a new number I think.

Why do people use no caller ID? I've had a few these past few days and never answer but I know some companies and scam calls use them and I just wonder why as people doing usually pick up! Tbh even if I hadn't gone through that experience with my ex I probably still wouldn't answer no ID calls as they're just plain annoying.

I hate to never get back to people and do know that some official companies/well meaning people use no ID and I feel bad I may be missing messages but surely they would just leave a voicemail?

I'm so 🤦🏼‍♀️ about the whole situation. I've been applying to new jobs recently and hate that I could be missing out on them due to maybe them using no caller ID.

In answer to your question, I use no caller ID on my work phone so that customers don't know my work mobile and direct line. That way all calls have to go through our customer line and be correctly logged, filtered out etc.

But equally, I don't always answer no caller ID numbers. If I do answer, and don't hear anyone in the first few seconds (indicative of a cold call) or its a call I don't want, then I'm happy enough to just hang up immediately. If its important, they will leave a message imo.

Sorry about your ex though, that sounds awful!

I never answer mobile calls if I don't know the number. If it's important they'll leave a message or call back.

I don’t answer calls with no ID. I reason that if it’s important they'll leave a message or write/email/text.

The job hunting puts a different slant on it but even so if someone is keen on contacting you I think the above logic would still apply. Perhaps you could put a message on saying ‘if your call is urgent please email me’ (assuming you have provided an email address on your cv/job application).

@babysharkah that's what I think! I haven't had any messages thus far so I assume it's nothing important or just a stupid call from him.

I wish we could block no caller ID calls on our phones.

I get no caller ID calls from the GP and hospital.

Hi Op,

Completely understand your reasons for not answering ‘no caller ID’ calls , your ex sounds awful 😬

I do answer because my GP surgery (for appointment call backs) and local hospital for example all call from an unknown number.
If it’s someone I don’t want to speak to I just hang up!

@Nesssie ah see that's why I worry about the new jobs I've applied to, surely though they'd leave a message if they were professional/well meaning calls.

He was a class A twat. Emotionally abusive, I really feel if I hadn't left he would have gotten physical. So many times during sex he'd pressure me to do things I didn't want to do and I even gave in a few times as I wanted to keep the peace! (Eg blowjobs, which I hate giving!)

i don't answer them either. this has bit me in the bum on a couple of critical occasions, e.g. NHS departments not leaving a voicemail and so i didn't get vital information in good time - it had to be posted out as a letter. very annoying so now if there's something like that i go through a period of answering the no caller ID ones.

i think my phone is set up to not identify me either - at least people have commented on it before, more than once.. as in "why are you hiding your number from me" - i didn't know it did, nor did i purposely add numbers at the start to hide it.. i just seem to have it set up that way.

so you're not unusual OP. but it has caused me problems.

your ex sounds like an abusive stalker!!

I never answer numbers i don't recognise on my mobile, if its important they'll leave a voice mail

@CoffeeNeeded2019 that's a good point, I didn't think about doctors, though I haven't been recently so hopefully it's nothing urgent. I'm sure they'd send a letter if needed anyway.

I just don't want to start picking up again incase it is him and it makes it worse again.

I really need to change my number!😂😫

@happyhillock exactly!

Surely you know your doctor's number

Hospital & doctors surgery leave a message here. I never answer calls from numbers I don't recognise or no caller ID.

My work had central switchboard so my calls always showed as unavailable, so do GP, optician and local hospital. I do as a PP suggested, pick them up and don't speak. Interested callers speak whereas sales calls usually ring off if you don't speak.
Alternatively, go ahreadand change your number, if it is not going to be a huge pain.

When my doctor calls no number comes up.

When my mother calls me - from overseas - is the other one I get "private number" message on.

I work in a hospital and often have to phone patients prior to their procedure. I am not allowed to leave a message on an answering machine unless it clearly identifies the recipient. This for patient confidentiality.
Lots of calls go unanswered and it can get frustrating!

I'm assuming you don't answer your phone with your name? I'd just answer, if it turned out to be TwatEx then just deny all knowledge of him and pretend to be someone else. Do it every time he calls with a different fun alternative personality each time.

@happyhillock No? I don't go very often.

@LadyFlumpalot I usually just say 'hello'. I guess I should pick them up. I always think if it's a hospital/doctor they'd write a letter anyways if really important.

I don't usually answer calls with no caller ID or overseas numbers to be honest. I kind of figure that if it's REALLY important they'll either call again or phone the landline.

Why don’t you just get a pay as you go SIM (they are usually free) and put that number down for job applications?

I don't answer the door or the phone unless I know who it is. There is a buzzer system in my apartment block, so if someone doesn't ring the buzzer, but manages to get in to knock on my flat door, I don't answer that either now lol. Because it was a policeman once! I'm wanted (well, sort of). Frightened the fucking life out of me - said he had been trying to get in touch but couldn't - I said I had some missed calls from private numbers so he tried ringing to see if it showed up a number and it didn't. I now don't answer the phone to private numbers or the door to fuckers who knock on my door rather than ring my buzzer - they have a fireman's key which gets them into the building. I don't want to talk to them. Bastards. Beside the point really. Lol, I sound like I'm on the run.

My GP always rings from a private number but leaves a voicemail.

Recruitment don't tend to use private numbers but always leave a voicemail and email also.

When I've answered, mostly it's gobshites telling me about PPI or an accident I was in.

I also get a lot of calls from area code 0161 wherever that is. They are either Sky trying to upsell, or the scammers aforementioned. Once it was a recruitment agent but they left a voicemail.

I never answer calls unless I know I am expecting them - caller Id or not. Not many people ring me though, and I hate using the phone.