On my Mobile phone I block 'Unknown' and 'Withheld' under the options menu. Someone has sold my number to PPI companies so I get daily calls from them. All blocked and I have turned off answer phone
Caused me trouble once when the Hospital were trying to call me urgently on a withheld number.
They dont want it to say XYZ hospital because then people might worry if they have 20 missed calls from them.
I usually only answer if the phone displays the name of the caller. If it displays a number I Google the number, and if it's withheld I ignore it. As others have said, if it's a genuine caller they'll leave a message. Recently we've had a rash of calls from a US number and I did answer the first time, but it was some kind of robot that asked for my partner but didn't respond when I spoke. Weird...
If I've recently been to the hospital or GP and I receive a withheld call that is the only time I would answer. Even if I don't they should leave a voicemail.
I've never seen the reason why some banks call from a withhheld number, would it not be better if they just presented the normal generic bank number as the CLI then at least people would be more likely to believe it's the bank calling.
Most people do get quite funny about a bank calling from a withheld number, especially if it is not expected...
If Banks ring up on a withheld number especially if it's an unexpected call, i'd be quite suspicious that they're scammers, why the public get funny about these calls, is why Banks phone numbers should not be withheld.
Withheld number rings you asks you to prove who you are and asks for bank details, And they expect you to believe you they are doing it for your sake, Would make anyone suspicious wouldn't it?
If I've recently been to the hospital or GP and I receive a withheld call that is the only time I would answer. Even if I don't they should leave a voicemail.
I can't comment on your GP, but Hospital's don't leave messages on answer phones - as I found out after I specifically bought an answer phone as my wife was awaiting various important calls from the Hospital
Apparently they 'can' leave messages, but only if you give them written permission to do so - and I'm pretty dubious that such permission will ever get through to the people who might be ringing
Certainly, despite giving written permission, we never got any message from the Hospital - all you could do is check the missed calls log, and if there were any Withheld ones ring the hospital to check.
If Banks ring up on a withheld number especially if it's an unexpected call, i'd be quite suspicious that they're scammers, why the public get funny about these calls, is why Banks phone numbers should not be withheld.
Makes no difference to me as if it's an important bank call, I will look up their phone number for myself then phone them back after ensuring that the line has fully cleared (get proper dialling tone) from before.
That is the best way to be certain that they are who they say they are.
Withheld number rings you asks you to prove who you are and asks for bank details, And they expect you to believe you they are doing it for your sake, Would make anyone suspicious wouldn't it?
I usually get into a discussion about the meaning of the word "confirm". I can only confirm something if they give me the information first. Otherwise I'm telling them.
Unless they are willing to show who they are, I am not interested. I could grab a cheap mobile, hold the number from showing, and ring up your dear old auntie and pretend I am the bank. You should never answer a hidden number on a personal line, it will more than likely be cold calling crap for PPI or double glazing.
Makes no difference to me as if it's an important bank call, I will look up their phone number for myself then phone them back after ensuring that the line has fully cleared (get proper dialling tone) from before.
That is the best way to be certain that they are who they say they are.
Yep. I've been getting 02 numbers which apparently is a London code and a google search says it's about a car accident.
Another major reason I don't pick up is that my mobile is a social tool. Only friends have the number so any other numbers I pretty much know are cold callers.
I sometimes pick up, then put the phone down again, hoping that at least the connection will cost them something. (Not always true, I know, but it makes me feel a little better.)
If Banks ring up on a withheld number especially if it's an unexpected call, i'd be quite suspicious that they're scammers, why the public get funny about these calls, is why Banks phone numbers should not be withheld.
And as I said before - you should not assume that anyone who calls you really is from your bank. Caller IDs can be faked relatively easily. Ask them what department they are calling from then call them back yourself using the official number from their website or any documentation you have.
I can't comment on your GP, but Hospital's don't leave messages on answer phones - as I found out after I specifically bought an answer phone as my wife was awaiting various important calls from the Hospital
Apparently they 'can' leave messages, but only if you give them written permission to do so - and I'm pretty dubious that such permission will ever get through to the people who might be ringing
Certainly, despite giving written permission, we never got any message from the Hospital - all you could do is check the missed calls log, and if there were any Withheld ones ring the hospital to check.
I didn't realise that. I guess I can understand the hospital not wanting to cause panic or distress by leaving a message but I would prefer to panic for a while rather than not being told.
Did they write to you asking you to contact them or did you answer the call in the end?
I didn't realise that. I guess I can understand the hospital not wanting to cause panic or distress by leaving a message but I would prefer to panic for a while rather than not being told.
They don't leave ANY messages, at the time we were simply waiting to hear details of urgent appointments, so nothing confidential or worrying at all.
Did they write to you asking you to contact them or did you answer the call in the end?
If we were in we answered any withheld calls during that time, and if we were out we checked the call logs when we came back, and if there were any from withheld numbers we rang the hospital to check.
My local pizza shop refuses custom from anyone who calls them using a withheld number. They use caller ID to get the number of the customer in case there is a problem or if they refuse to pay.
Isn't this issue another case of the "if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear" fallacy usually perpetrated by right wing commentators?
On the landline we have caller ID so we only answer if its from numbers we know, if its witheld or isnt a number we recognise we dont bother picking up. If its urgent they will leave a message on the 1571
My local Chinese takeaway has some kind of touch-screen ordering system. Every time their phone rings the caller ID appears on the screen and the system takes a note of it along with what food they've ordered.
When a future call comes from the same number a "favourites list" of items that they ordered before appears, thus those who regularly phone through with the same orders may get their order done quicker.
My local pizza shop refuses custom from anyone who calls them using a withheld number. They use caller ID to get the number of the customer in case there is a problem or if they refuse to pay.
My Dad's landline somehow withholds his number automatically on every call, every time. So how is he supposed to place an order with this pizza shop?
My Dad's landline somehow withholds his number automatically on every call, every time. So how is he supposed to place an order with this pizza shop?
That's because he asked for it to be done that way - he can either reverse the instructions to re-enable caller-ID, or simply add a prefix before he dials (depending on your supplier).
For BT:
If you have chosen to have your number permanently withheld, you can use 1470 to enable your number to be released on a call-by-call basis. Simply dial '1470' before making a call.
If you are not withholding your number permanently, you can use 141 to withhold your number on a call-by-call basis. Simply dial '141' before making a call.
Comments
Likewise, just check the CLI and then let the answer phone take it - you find that they NEVER leave a message
Caused me trouble once when the Hospital were trying to call me urgently on a withheld number.
They dont want it to say XYZ hospital because then people might worry if they have 20 missed calls from them.
If Banks ring up on a withheld number especially if it's an unexpected call, i'd be quite suspicious that they're scammers, why the public get funny about these calls, is why Banks phone numbers should not be withheld.
I can't comment on your GP, but Hospital's don't leave messages on answer phones - as I found out after I specifically bought an answer phone as my wife was awaiting various important calls from the Hospital
Apparently they 'can' leave messages, but only if you give them written permission to do so - and I'm pretty dubious that such permission will ever get through to the people who might be ringing
Certainly, despite giving written permission, we never got any message from the Hospital - all you could do is check the missed calls log, and if there were any Withheld ones ring the hospital to check.
Makes no difference to me as if it's an important bank call, I will look up their phone number for myself then phone them back after ensuring that the line has fully cleared (get proper dialling tone) from before.
That is the best way to be certain that they are who they say they are.
I usually get into a discussion about the meaning of the word "confirm". I can only confirm something if they give me the information first. Otherwise I'm telling them.
Another major reason I don't pick up is that my mobile is a social tool. Only friends have the number so any other numbers I pretty much know are cold callers.
My thinking exactly
I didn't realise that. I guess I can understand the hospital not wanting to cause panic or distress by leaving a message but I would prefer to panic for a while rather than not being told.
Did they write to you asking you to contact them or did you answer the call in the end?
They don't leave ANY messages, at the time we were simply waiting to hear details of urgent appointments, so nothing confidential or worrying at all.
If we were in we answered any withheld calls during that time, and if we were out we checked the call logs when we came back, and if there were any from withheld numbers we rang the hospital to check.
Not necessarily, could be Southampton, Cardiff, Portsmouth, Northern Ireland or indeed London depending what comes after the two.
Isn't this issue another case of the "if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear" fallacy usually perpetrated by right wing commentators?
My work always comes up withheld on my mobile so I have to answer them really. It's annoying as I don't like to answer withheld numbers.
When a future call comes from the same number a "favourites list" of items that they ordered before appears, thus those who regularly phone through with the same orders may get their order done quicker. My Dad's landline somehow withholds his number automatically on every call, every time. So how is he supposed to place an order with this pizza shop?
That's because he asked for it to be done that way - he can either reverse the instructions to re-enable caller-ID, or simply add a prefix before he dials (depending on your supplier).
For BT: