Do you answer Private or Withheld numbers?

One thing that really bugs me is receiving phone calls from Private or Withheld numbers, especially this time of the year.

I did a test last week and out of 79 phone calls received from such numbers only 8 were actually business queries, while the rest were people trying to sell me this and that, things that I probably never need anyway.

Some are really persistent and cannot take NO for an answer which force me to just put the phone down.
“Thanks, but no thanks, I am not interested in your offer.” – Is this message not clear enough?

Would you not love to be able to give them a slap through the phone? I one, do.

How many of you do answer the phone when the number is not displayed?

I for one took a decision not too any-longer. If it is that important, leave a message and we will call you back.
I do understand when you are calling another private person, but a business?
What have you got to hide?
What happens if you run out of credit or the line just drops?
Can I call you back to finish the conversation? Oh, wait – there is no number available.

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This entry was posted on Saturday, December 1st, 2007 at 4:00 pm and is filed under Other. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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• 11 Responses to “Do you answer Private or Withheld numbers?”

paul Says:
December 2nd, 2007 at 5:45 pm

some times I’ll answer, but normally I don’t answer with my name, I’ll just say like “hello” and wait for their response. As some of these marketers get extra money for adding in details that they find out about you.

Sometimes I’ll answer and once I know it’s a marketer, I will put down the phone and put them on mute

Louie @ Eire Web Design Says:
December 2nd, 2007 at 5:57 pm

That’s a good one as well.
I used to ask them to call me back later, and same next time than again and again until they give up.

Ciaran Says:
December 4th, 2007 at 3:01 am

All our phones at work dial out from a withheld number, I find it quite handy in most case’s especially to find out who just called you and where from etc, and seeing as its our business line we never need worry about the line dropping or credit like an individual would.

The other benefit I have is that very few people have my direct dial and most of my calls come screened through the receptionist

Louie @ Eire Web Design Says:
December 6th, 2007 at 9:57 am

Ciaran, you are one of the lucky persons that has a receptionist available, but most small business doesn’t and they do have to put up with this type of calls every day.

Talking about persistence, every day in the last week at exactly 09:10 – 09:15am I get a call from Eircom, trying to sell me a better package then the existing one I have, but I already said no to it, so why the repeat calls?

I do answer them as is doesn’t come on Private number, but no anymore as I remember it now.

Alastair Says:
December 7th, 2007 at 3:04 am

A lot of the time I don’t answer them on my personal mobile. Thankfully the office line is screened so I get the choice – oftentimes I don’t bother with aggressive sales calls.

btw, did you recent change the design here (or have I offended with my non-recognition of a long-time design)?

Louie @ Eire Web Design Says:
December 7th, 2007 at 9:46 am

I did it few months ago and it was due and on my list for ages, just never got the time.

Peter Says:
December 28th, 2007 at 3:34 pm

Hi all. A friend of mine got a useful service on her phone. It’s on a contract phone so not sure if you can get it otherwise. It tells the caller to phone back with their number displayed. I know this is useless posting this because I do not have the site hand but I can post it when I get it. It’s €2 a month

Louie @ Eire Web Design Says:
December 28th, 2007 at 3:43 pm

Never heard of it but it sounds like a brilliant service.
Post the link if you get it.

Peter Says:
December 28th, 2007 at 3:47 pm

Hi, just got the site.. http://www.NoPrivateNumbers.com Sorry if you’re not allowed URLs here.

trish meally Says:
October 4th, 2008 at 2:18 pm

how do I get this service on my phone

jens Says:
August 13th, 2009 at 12:08 am

hello everybody. I answer every call of a withheld number, because I am not shy and it could be imprtant. My credit bank, the ge-money bank always calls withheld, but I don´t answer all calls, if the number is shown, because I am able to call back later. And it is useless to ignore withheld numbers, because it doesn´t protect against marketing call. The company I am working for is a market research institute, that sends a wrong number via voice over IP. If an person calls back, you hear:,, Welcome to the mailbox ofxxx.