To not answer an unknown number

[Patentreegml]

I am a supply teacher, furloughed, and looking for jobs around the Chester area.

I have just had an unknown number call me which said it was from Birmingham. I didn't answer as usually I wait for unknown numbers to finish and then google the number.
Google did not have any info on the number.
No voicemail was left.

I'm just worried incase it was important.
But I can't think who would ring me from Birmingham.
But surely any job application callbacks would leave a voicemail?

[ilovesooty]

[quote Patentreegml]@ilovesooty i have my agency number in my contact books and I have been with them for a year;
I have not joined any other agencids[/quote]
Fine. If you've decided it's nothing to do with work and you're not being contacted about job opportunities you might as well stop bothering yourself about where the call has come from then. If these calls bother you there's a solution - answer them.

[WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll]

Did you look it up online? Put it in a search engine in inverted commas (no spaces).

Alternatively, you could always call them back and say you had a missed call from them. If they start trying to sell you double glazing or wanting to discuss 'your road accident', you can always hang up and then know that you didn't miss anything.

[recklessruby]

I dont answer them either. I m getting a spate of them at the moment and have googled the ones with numbers.
All trying to sell me stuff or take out high interest loans. It seems to come in waves.
Jobs/doctors etc usually leave a voicemail.

[Bargebill19]

Normally I let unknown calls go to answerphone. If I’m job hunting, I will answer them.
If it’s a nuisance call I’ll subsequently block it. Easy to do.

[hellsbellsmelons]

I really don't understand the mentality of not answering the phone to unknown numbers, it only seems to exist on MN
Really?
I never pick up unknown numbers.
If they want to they can leave a message and I'll call back.
Surely that's not too hard to understand.

[merryhouse]

I keep getting unknown numbers that say they're from "Manchester" or "Hinckley" or "Colchester" or wherever. They never leave a message.

I'm not currently applying for jobs.

The one time I did have a job agency call and not be answered (because I was on the loo, iirc) they left a message.

If it's important, they'll leave a message. (And as a school governor who has been involved in the recruitment process I'm pretty confident in saying that no school is going to ignore a potential candidate just because she didn't pick up on their first call.)

[Puddlejuice]

Recruitment agencies may have centralised their booking desks etc.

Serious, non goady question, but what do you think could go wrong by you answering an unknown number? You've given this much more heads pace than it would have taken to say "no thanks" to a PPI call or whatever.

[theonlywayisapple]

@Crystaltree

It was probably a contact tracer. Hide under the bed.

They aren’t withheld

[negomi90]

I work in a hospital, when I call patients it's from a witheld number (which you can't look up). I don't leave messages in case I've accidentally called the wrong person as I don't want to break confidentiality.
I normally only try once or twice because I get busy.

[Laaalaaaa]

The dialling code does not always determine the actual location of the call. My husband has called me from a work phone and the location was Texas. Also phoned from Norway and it’s showed as Aberdeen.

[WorraLiberty]

I tell you what I don't get about these threads (and there are many of them).

People have every right not to answer calls/answer the door if they're not expecting anyone, even though I personally think it's a bit odd - each to their own.

But what I don't get is adults choosing to make these decisions and then starting threads, asking the internet who they think might've called, or in this case 'surely job application callbacks would leave a voicemail?'

No-one here can answer that for you.

[Patentreegml]

It began with 0121 so definitely Birmingham

[TonytheDog]

Why don't you just call the number? Put 141 in first if you want to hide your number. You can hang up if it's someone you don't want to talk to.

[IntermittentParps]

Google the number. That's what I do.

[Patentreegml]

I'm just going to leave it,
If it's important i'm sure they'll call back

[Thelnebriati]

Patentreegml If you have a stalker you need to use 2 or 3 phones, so you'd have one just for your jobhunting.

[Kinneddar]

Fine. If you've decided it's nothing to do with work and you're not being contacted about job opportunities you might as well stop bothering yourself about where the call has come from then. If these calls bother you there's a solution - answer them

Exactly!

Only on MN does something like answering the phone or door turn into a total drama 🙄.

[Ponoka7]

@CourtneyLurve, are you not a point of contact for anyone who could have been in, an accident, been attacked, burgled etc?

As said, HCPs, education officials etc can't leave VM or text/email there and then.

I can recall lots of times, when it's been emergencies, one being when my DD's friend was killed in front of her, she dropped and broke her phone in shock. It was a passer by who phoned me on her behalf. She routed in her bag for her address book/diary. Another was when someone had found my other DD's work phone, got the number as it ran out of battery. That's as well as the hospital runs I've had to do.

[nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut]

Why are people so weird about answering the phone? If its bollocks you just hang up...

[Sandybval]

I always answer the phone and just hang up if it's a cold caller or whatever. Not everyone leaves messages, as has been said, in case they get the wrong number etc.

[foamrolling]

I agree worra. If you are the type of person who will worry away at who it was then just answer. But not answering then trying to work out who it was is a bit bonkers.

[Lurleene]

I'm working from home at the moment like mist of my colleagues and have to use my personal phone to make calls. I always withhold my number, I don't want people I have had to contact in a work capacity knowing my personal number. Unfortunately lots of people don't answer it or are suspicious of me when they do answer.

[HotDogGuy]

@WorraLiberty exactly. It’s so annoying.

It’s like I’ve not answered a number I don’t know. I’m job hunting could it be important.
Others - yes it could
OP - no because of xyz
Well then don’t start the thread

[IntermittentParps]

Why are people so weird about answering the phone? If its bollocks you just hang up...
It's just easier not to answer when you suspect it's a junk call.

[Deelish75]

The police have said there's been an increase in scams going on during the pandemic.
On Monday (this week) we had two missed calls on our landline, googled the number and nothing came up. Same number rang Tuesday morning so I answered, it was an automated message
"Hello customer, there is a problem with your broadband and your service provider will be terminating it in 4 hours. To rectify this problem please press 1."
I held the line for a few seconds and then I heard someone saying hello. I asked them what my name is? And my service provider is? They hung up on me.
My broadband is still working and that number hasn't rang again - bastards.
Not saying that your call was a scam but it probably was as google couldn't identify the number.