Incomming call: hidden caller

[Tobias23]

Just curious. If your (mobile-) phone rings, and the caller has a hidden ID (number), do you answer or not? And why?

I for myself don't answer. Everyone on my contact list won't be hidden, so it is someone unkown, and if he/she decides to hide, I just find that rude. Or it is some sort of call center trying to sell you something. Oh and I get about one call a week like that.

What about you?

[les]

I agree if you want to hide from me I do not want to talk to you.

[Incubo]

Hmm...actually, for me, doesn't really matter. I simply don't answer the phone at all. The ringer is off, so I won't know you even called until you leave a message. Don't leave a message? Must not have needed to talk to me that badly. Simple.

[Venus]

In Germany companies aren't allowed to hide their telephone numbers. Therefore this is a private person who is calling you.

But it's interesting that the caller doesn't leave a message for you or send an sms. Perhaps you got a stalker?

[Nezhul]

I'll answer just to check. Still waiting for aliens to contact me also.

[shell]

I suppose I would answer...because curiosity would get the better of me. *giggle*

[mmdead2002]

It could actually be somebody in your contact list...if they have a privacy setting enabled with their provider, their number always shows up as hidden/unknown (even if you know them and call them daily).

Thought you might want to know...

That said, I do whatever I feel like at the moment, which is usually ignore it.

[selfbound]

I would answer! "The curiosity is strong with this one!"

[janmb]

I never answer hidden numbers. And since a vast majority in my country shares this attitude, the use of hidden numbers is pretty much non-existent any more. For better and worse.

[S.M.]

Sometimes picking up such an incoming call may leave you with a huge telephone bill. So you need to be cautious. I've read about silent calls coming from South Africa in the last days. People who picked them up ended up with hundreds-dollars bills.

Unfortunately, where I live, companies (cell phone operators and banks on the first place) use hidden numbers very often. So I have to pick them up, cause it might be either an important call from the bank, a tele-marketer offering a credit card, loan, iphone5 or other things I don't really need, or someone who just wants to charge $200 from my telephone bill. My opinion is that it should be forbidden, just like in Germany.

[Nezhul]

strange. In my country it's always the CALLER who pays, so you can't end up spending money by picking up a phone - all incoming calls are free.
There's a service to call using the other side's money, but in that case when picking up a phone you first are asked are you OK with paying for that call, before you are connected.

And it's in Russia, where bears are still walking in the streets occasionally, so I was surprised to hear that somewhere you can loose money by answering the phone.

[les]

In the UK we can be charged for receiving some texts.

[green]

Out of curiousity I'd answer :D

Also a while ago I called random numbers from the Phonebook while hiding my number. Just to see if I can find someone to talk xd.. its quite fun to see how different people react. It's also expanding your comfort zone and highly fun :3.. recommended.

~green~

[Banquo]

Yup I usually answer it, curiosity gets the better of me.

[Sett]

Well, my country is specific in that people here never ever use voice messages (at least none that i know of...).

Still if the caller doesn't feel polite enough to identify himself, why should i put up with that?