Unknown Callers - what do you do?

[Earlybird]

Do you have/use caller ID?

Will you answer the phone if the name and/or number that appear on caller ID are unfamiliar?

How do you respond when someone you've never heard of leaves you a message: 'Hello X (your name). This is Y (their name). Could you please call me back at xxx.xxxx' with no indication why they're calling, and what they wish to speak about.

I am becoming increasingly cranky/anti-social and often don't pick up the phone and don't call back.

What do you do?

Trying again with the daytime crowd....

I have to decide if I'm going to call back the man who left his name and number (but no clue as to who he is and why he called), or if I'm going to simply delete from my voicemail.

I've checked dd's school directory, and he doesn't appear to be a parent.....

I tend not to. I reckon if they need to talk to me that badly they can tell me who they are. I sometimes Google the number, though, to see what comes up.

Personally I would dial 141then his number and ask him who he is.

I use caller ID every day for every call, I am the queen of call screening

I don't answer calls from international or unavailable.

I don't usually answer withheld calls although lots of people I know have withheld numbers. If they are someone I know then they will wait for the answerphone to come on and I can pick it up if I recognise them.

If they have left a message then I would probably phone back and ask who they are and what they want. Maybe they were from the national lottery and want to know who to make your cheque out to!

are you on any nhs waiting lists? they tend to call but not leave much info.

I have caller ID on but do answer the phone but never give out any information including confirming information unless I know who it is. I personally would call back and say 'I'm phoning on behalf of , I believe you are trying to get hold of her. Can I take a message and get her to call you back?' If it's legit you can get them to tell you what it's about and then you can decide whether or not to call again.