How do you use caller id?

[disneysteve]

This isn't really a financial topic but I suppose it could be depending on how you look at things.

We do not have caller ID at home. I see no reason to pay extra for the service. If my phone rings, I answer it. If it is a telemarketer or charity or someone else I don't care to speak to, I hang up. Plain and simple.

With our cell phones, however, we do have caller ID because the service is included as part of the plan. Not having it wasn't an option. Still, when my phone rings, I answer it, whether I recognize the number making the call or not. Isn't that the whole point of a telephone after all?

Anyway, this morning at the office, my one employee's cell phone rings. She goes over to it and it says "unknown" on the screen, so she didn't answer it. A while later, the same thing happened - phone rings, screen says "unknown" and she doesn't answer it. I don't understand how anyone can do that. She has absolutely no way of knowing who those calls were from. Maybe something happened to her daughter or husband or elderly father. Just because the caller ID didn't identify the caller is no reason not to answer your phone.

Am I the only one who feels that way?

[bjl584]

Usually when my cell phone screan comes up as "unknown" or "restricted" I won't answer. I just don't like to answer those calls for some reason. I figure if it's legitimate or if it's important, then they will leave a message. Then, I can just call them back.

[wrk4lvg]

I live by caller ID. Your name doesn't pop up on my TV or phone. I don't answer it. If you are somebody important, then you would already be in my contacts.

My job actually is to maintain routing scripts for a large wireless carrier. We place 10s of thousands of outbound calls per day using the same call back number (the same number will always display on your caller ids specific to your area code) all across the country in an attempt to collect outstanding balances. We call the same 8 million customers each month. They know the number and they know why we are calling. It blows my mind the amount of customers that pick up and curse our reps out for calling them during a meeting or while their in the bathroom or while they're driving, as if they don't know who is calling them.

When I started out on the phones, I would reply back with, then why did you pick up the phone?

[feh]

We have vonage for home phone, which includes caller ID. If I don't recognize either the name or the number, I don't answer it.

[disneysteve]

If you are somebody important, then you would already be in my contacts.

No offense but I just can't comprehend thinking that way. Do you never get a phone call from someone who isn't a regular caller?

I have a daughter so occasionally one of her friends may call. I'm active at my synagogue and might get a call from a fellow congregant for some reason. I use my home phone number or my cell phone number as contact info for work-related stuff so I might get a call that way. I couldn't possibly have everybody who might ever call me already programmed into my phone.

Even for people who are in my contact list, they may not always call from the same phone. Maybe a friend will call me from his office and I only have his home number in my contacts. Or an office has multiple phone lines (we have 5 at my office) and I only have the primary line programmed in. There are any number of reasons why an unknown phone number could pop up on my caller id.

Maybe I'm the odd one but I'll keep answering my phone when it rings.

[jpg7n16]

It feels like every time I've ever answered an 'Unknown' number, it's always been a telemarketer of some kind. I don't need a car warranty, I don't speak Spanish, I don't need a credit card.

So since those experiences are always bad, I let it go to voicemail. Especially if it's an 800 number.

If you're a real person, you can leave a message. I'll call you back.

[MonkeyMama]

I don't have caller ID on my home phone but never answer my cell if I don't know who it is.

99% of the time it is not important. In cases where it was, they left a message and I immediately called them back.

At home, I never answer - just let the answering machine pick up.

I save a ton of time not answering every tele marketing/fluff call.

As far as my cell phone, it is reserved for emergencies and family. This is why I certainly do not pick it up every time it rings. I don't need to rack up minutes, and waste my time on wrong numbers and tele marketers. Because that is the only reason my phone rings as much as it does.

Of course, my friends and family know if they really need to reach me in an emergency, my cell phone is not the best choice. If I am unreachable otherwise, I will eventually get a message, but if I am near a landline and easily accessible, I don't keep my cell phone on or on my person at all times. Since I have small kids, I try to be reachable though. If not near a landline, I keep my cell on me and check it more often.

[MonkeyMama]

P.S. My husband drops everything he is doing to answer the phone, no matter what. It drives me nuts. I suppose we are two opposite extremes. I can assure you the call has NEVER been that important. He'd be the one asking why you were bothering him in the bathroom - LOL. I'd be the one saying, "Why did you answer???"

[wrk4lvg]

No offense but I just can't comprehend thinking that way. Do you never get a phone call from someone who isn't a regular caller?

No offense taken as I am unable to wrap my head around the other side of the coin.

So we cancel each other out.

To answer your question, yes, I get calls from irregular callers all the time. The underlining factor that will determine if I pick up the phone is whether or not they are in my contact list. If they are in my contact list, then they will likely get me on the other end of the phone. If not, they can always leave a voicemail, text, or email as they all come to my phone as well.

Simply put, if you're not somebody I know, and you are calling me, I will put the call straight to voicemail 100% of the time.

Honestly, I think it boils down to not wanting to stop what I'm doing to talk to somebody I do not know. If the same person had just sent a text or email, they would get a response within moments as it only takes literally a few seconds to address your reason for calling.

Then again, it could just boil down to a difference in generations.

[disneysteve]

I think it boils down to not wanting to stop what I'm doing to talk to somebody I do not know.

I guess that's part of my issue. Just because the caller isn't in my contact list doesn't mean I don't know them or don't want to talk to them.

Then again, it could just boil down to a difference in generations.

What are you trying to say?
I do think that is part of it. I'm 46 and obviously grew up without caller id or cell phones or voice mail. If the phone rang, the only way to know who was calling was to answer the phone. Otherwise, you missed the call.

99% of the time, when the phone rings, it is a personal call intended for me from someone who knows me. Yes, there is the occasional telemarketer but since they instituted the do-no-call list a few years ago, those calls are few and far between. Certainly not enough for me to screen my calls.

[jpg7n16]

Well now that I think about it, I base it more on the area code.

Cause if I recognize the area code as being around here, I usually answer - even if I don't know the number. There are really only 3 main area codes here in the DFW area that I recognize (817, 972, 214). So if I get an 800, 866, 626, 510, etc (all from my call history on my phone) - I just ignore those.

[wrk4lvg]

Well now that I think about it, I base it more on the area code.

Cause if I recognize the area code as being around here, I usually answer - even if I don't know the number. There are really only 3 main area codes here in the DFW area that I recognize (817, 972, 214). So if I get an 800, 866, 626, 510, etc (all from my call history on my phone) - I just ignore those.

In our form of bill collecting we design our systems to call you with a number specific to your area code to better our chances you will pick up. So you may live in Alaska, but we're calling your from Tennessee using a area code you know.

[disneysteve]

Well now that I think about it, I base it more on the area code.

Cause if I recognize the area code as being around here, I usually answer - even if I don't know the number. There are really only 3 main area codes here in the DFW area that I recognize (817, 972, 214). So if I get an 800, 866, 626, 510, etc (all from my call history on my phone) - I just ignore those.

Area codes aren't as useful as they used to be because of cell phones. Once someone has a cell phone, they generally keep the number no matter where they may move to. I had a Philadelphia area code number on my cell for years after moving to New Jersey. I know people who have area codes from all over the country who now live here in NJ. Since the calling plans include long distance, there is no reason to change numbers anymore when you move. So I might get a call with a California area code but it might be a friend who lives 10 miles away from me.

[wrk4lvg]

I do think that is part of it. I'm 46 and obviously grew up without caller id or cell phones or voice mail. If the phone rang, the only way to know who was calling was to answer the phone. Otherwise, you missed the call.

I'm 32 and grew up with a rotary out in the garage

The first call waiting was asking the operator to barge in the line and kick the caller off the line so you can reach the person you're calling.

I DO NOT like busy tones.

[disneysteve]

The first call waiting was asking the operator to barge in the line and kick the caller off the line so you can reach the person you're calling.

I fought with my wife about call waiting. I did not want it. Saw no purpose to it. I still don't. If I'm on the phone with someone, my attention should be given to them. I shouldn't be putting them on hold to go talk to someone else. The other person can just call back until they get through. Of course, I lost that argument and we did get call waiting but when I make outgoing calls, I often block it.