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?

[LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow]

if you are not on my contacts list my phone doesn't even ring.

I also have a answer machine message telling callers this in a very stern tone, and then say but "do please leave a message if you would like me to call you back" in a much kinder tone :o

Somehow i got onto some blasted list last year and my phone was ringing and getting texts about car loans, insurance claims and the like and it was driving me batty

People who need to DO leave a message. and tough titties if they don't.

[dadshere]

If you wanted to know who was calling you, you could have answered the call. You chose not to, so move on. I have two family members who also do not answer calls from unknown numbers, it infuriates me as I have tried calling them from payphones/workphones/friend's phones only for them not to answer.

[PhewitsFriday]

Where has all this GP stuff came from? I never said anything about having any GP or hospital appointments nor do I have kids in school?
Every time I've had a teaching interview, i've had an email or a voicemail has been left just saying "hi this is blah de blah school. We are happy to invite you to an interview. Please call us back on whatever number"

I'm not panicking anymore but after last year (well really around 4 months ago) when my ex was showing up at my work, ringing me and then I blocked his number, and then he was using other numbers to ring me, I do have anxiety about answering calls of numbers I don't know.

I don't get why some people blast on about mental health matters yet anxiety is not taken as seriously.

My GP totally understands phone anxiety and apparently it's really common. 3 years ago when i was referred to counselling they had an option of 'phone' or 'email' for those who did not like random phone calls.

[Newkitchen123]

Haven't RTFT but... 5 pages on whether or not to answer the phone!

[Gwenhwyfar]

@saraclara

All doctor's and hospital numbers are withheld. Specifically BECAUSE people (especially women abused by their partners/teenaged girls) need to know they have full confidentiality.

That's not true. The dental department of a hospital calls me with their general number showing, although unfortunately not the actual department.

[Gwenhwyfar]

@moreofthegreenstuff

What's the point in having a phone and not answering it when it rings?

To answer calls when you know who it's from.

[letmethinkaboutitfornow]

@HotDogGuy

I don’t get why you wouldn’t answer. If it’s nonsense hang up.
It could be important. Some recruiters are national and have a base in one part of the country but recruit for the whole of the UK.

Yep, why wouldn’t you just pick it up, not important, the disconnect! 😳

[Splattherat]

I am working from home PT and I also volunteer due to Covid PT. I don’t have a work mobile and I get free minutes and have to make the occasional call and I dial 141 so our customers/clients don’t have my landline in either instance.

[SecondaryBurnzzz]

It might have been the Covid track and trace people?

[redwinefine]

I don't answer unknown numbers either - I'm the same as you. If it's important, I'll know the number or they can leave a message. If neither happens, I don't think about it anymore

[KatherineJaneway]

I won't answer unknown numbers because as soon as you do and it's a 'have you been in an accident' call, they know the number is active and then you get loads of similar calls from various numbers. If someone wants to talk to me then they will leave a message.

Expecting a call is a completely different matter, then I would answer the phone.

[Ughmaybenot]

I can’t really understand this attitude of ignoring the phone if you don’t know the number or if it’s a withheld number. If it’s a waste call, just hang up?
Especially if you’re job hunting, head office or agencies can be based in different areas to the actual job.
Same thing with answering the door, I find it so strange that so many people just ignore the door if not expecting someone.

[vanillandhoney]

@KatherineJaneway

I won't answer unknown numbers because as soon as you do and it's a 'have you been in an accident' call, they know the number is active and then you get loads of similar calls from various numbers. If someone wants to talk to me then they will leave a message.

Expecting a call is a completely different matter, then I would answer the phone.

Yes, exactly this.

I never answer my phone to an unknown number unless I'm expecting a call from my GP or similar.

[cologne4711]

OP I've had a couple of calls from a Birmingham number recently and was told it might be a loft insulation scam.

I never answer the phone if I don't recognise the number, unless I am expecting a call that day. If it's important they will call back or write to me.

Not sure how it works with this contact tracing thing to be honest - on the one hand you've got possible scammers, but on the other hand, are we going to be told we must always answer the phone at the moment even if we don't know who it is, in case it's NHS contact tracers?

[cologne4711]

I find it so strange that so many people just ignore the door if not expecting someone


why? If I am not expecting a parcel or a person, why would I open the door to a cold caller? If they need to go house to house looking for work, they are rubbish - anyone decent works on referrals. Putting a leaflet through the door is one thing, but knocking on the door is really intrusive.

[cologne4711]

About 10 years ago I actually got the point where I changed my voicemail message on my mobile to say "this is Cologne4711, please leave your name and number but if you are calling from [constant spam number] please stop it because you are being a nuisance". I had a few people comment on that! Eventually the calls did stop but I don't know if it had anything to do with the message. I was on the TPS but obviously there are always callers to whom that doesn't apply (in their own minds) just as the cold callers who knock on my door always have a reason why the no cold calling zone doesn't apply to them.

[cologne4711]

I have elderly parents, someone could easily try to contact me in an emergency

if someone rang me about my mum I would recognise the dialing code and probably would pick up in that case.

I don't get medical calls. I may get a reminder text from the dentist but that's all.

[iwishiknewthatbefore]

I agree with other posters. I'm in Birmingham and have been applying for jobs like crazy and I've had calls from Nottingham and Manchester and both were recruiters 🤷‍♀️

[RoLaren]

There are computer programmes that randomly dial every mobile number, and the ones which are answered go onto a live list to be sold on to marketers. Answering an unknown number lets them know it's a valid mobile number. That's why I don't answer unknown numbers (or unsubscribe from unwanted emails - same thing, lets them know you're there).

[heidbuttsupper]

I don't answer unknown numbers or answer my door

[vanillandhoney]

I don't understand why people are so confused about the fact that other people aren't the same as them.

If you want to answer the door, do so. If you want to answer unknown numbers, go ahead. But why does it matter so much that other people don't want to do the same?

[EmmaGrundyForPM]

We don't have caller ID on our phone so every call is an unknown number iyswim. It's never been a problem.

Are we the only people not to have a telephone with caller ID?

[understandmenow]

So OP did you ring it back? The suspense of just who it might be is killing me!

[TeacupDrama]

Surely anyone even the most anxious can tell the difference between generally not answering unknown numbers and the scenario when you ring doctors and the receptionist tells you I have booked you a telephone consultation at 11am, the call will come from an unknown number and then an unknown number calls at 11am and you don't answer Because of confidentiality doctors etc generally don't leave messages.

[vanillandhoney]

@TeacupDrama

Surely anyone even the most anxious can tell the difference between generally not answering unknown numbers and the scenario when you ring doctors and the receptionist tells you I have booked you a telephone consultation at 11am, the call will come from an unknown number and then an unknown number calls at 11am and you don't answer Because of confidentiality doctors etc generally don't leave messages.

Most people who have said they generally ignore unknown numbers have said they would answer in this scenario.