Dirty phone call

[PerkyOchrePeer]

I had a dirty phone call this evening to my mobile and it was from private number I was going to report it but there's no point because you can't trace it because he was a private number he was whispering. I did speak back and said who is this and he just repeated his obscenities to me then I hang up and he phoned back didn't speak I hung up he tried again didn't speak I hang up and I haven't heard from him since

Am I the only one who’s never had a dirty phone call?!

Would quite like to mess with them, but then I’m a call-phobic millennial who’s also anti-social as hell

If it’s really important they can leave a voice mail.

My mobile phone provider just said to me we can block private numbers but then it would block all private numbers and some of them would be genuine so they said to me if the person calls more than one's then report it to the police and they can do something about it but I don't think they can

In my 60's and can confirm that dirty phone calls used to be a big 'thing' back in the 70s. I doubt any 80 year old who has had children is going to be shocked into a heart attack by some weird perv trying to get his jollies. More likely to blow the Loud Whistle we all used to keep by the phone for this purpose.

I used to get these fairly frequently from some weirdo. The phone networks can see the number like 999 emergency services can, even if withheld but they would have to monitor it to do this and intercept as it's misuse of telecommunications. In the end I bought a shrill whistle and said weirdo gave up.

But then you’d miss so many things.

All my hospital appointments come from withheld numbers, even my children’s school!

The hospital certainly don’t bother leaving voice mails.

Please do not waste the authorities’ time with this (unless there is more to the story; ie you suspect it’s someone you know and this has been accompanied by other concerning behaviour). Just block/*don't answer and move on.

I did once, on a landline, when I was about 18.

He said, “have you got big tits?”

I said, “yeah, massive, have you got a big dick?” He went silent then hung up. I think he was just hoping to intimidate a woman and gave up when I did it back.

I got a dirty phone call once, I laughed that much, he put the phone down on me!

NHS 11 leave a voicemail because when I needed their services a doctor was going to ring me back and I had fallen asleep and when the doctor tried to ring me I didn't answer and he left a voicemail

Next time just scream really loudly, or play a sound on your tv/computer. There's all sorts on YouTube, police picking up the phone etc

I always received text reminders about Covid jabs. GP also texted me about my blood tests when they were all normal and NFA.

@PerkyOchrePeer

You’re contradicting yourself - you have pointed out that these types of calls can have a major impact on the recipient, but also that it’s a waste of time reporting them

The telephone networks can trace calls, so you can just report the date / times of the relevant ones.
You don’t have to pursue any further yourself, and the likelihood is that there will be little action, but if they happen to be a prolific offender then it builds a case

If you’re worried enough to post a thread and think of worst case scenarios then you should report to your phone provider

Because as has already been pointed out, many legitimate companies and organisations call from withheld numbers. I have never understood this paranoia about withheld or unknown numbers- when we had landlines where we would answer without hesitation, not having any clue who was on the other end.

We used to get this on our land line years ago. It’s stopped when I started saying “it’s your bill arsehole” , and putting the phone receiver on the side to keep the charge running.

Unknown numbers can be blocked in most phones, but that’s not really a recommended solution as it blocks valid calls as well

There are other screening options such as allowing direct access to numbers in your phone book combined with a screening option for others, plus there may be a phone or network option to block known nuisance callers

It must be age-related. I say this not in an ageist way, just that as WinterMorn says those of us who grew up before mobile phones and internet had to learn to cope with answering the phone. It really is no big deal once you get used to it.

They’ll leave a message if it’s important

They might. Then we might get into an endless round of phoning back and leaving messages and missing each other. I'd rather just answer the phone.

lol

wonder if anyone lasted the 59 mins and had the sense to re-dial to get the free minutes 😂

They haven’t said they have an issue with answering the phone? Clearly they picked it up in the first place in order to receive this call.

Not everyone has a message facility set up.

The OP clearly had no problem answering the phone, but most of the replies suggest not answering unless you know who's calling. To be fair, my husband (nearly 70, never a phone fan) adopts this approach.

A dirty caller! Retro! Feel free to let the police or phone company know, they won't do much but why not make a record in case it becomes a regular thing. You can report online.

I don’t understand why but our GP and hospital always come up as number withheld. So annoying as I generally do not answer only to get a voice mail and I try and call back and they never answer.
I recall getting those phone calls on a landline back in the day. You just hung up. They get fed up if no reaction.