Caller ID and screening

[Caropooh]

After posting on Tigger&Belle's "phone issues" thread, I have another question.
How many of you screen your calls with caller ID and won't answer it if you don't know who it is? I won't, except in very few instances. T&B did call me the other day and I answered! Caller ID only gave a phone number and the state she lived in, but she has just told me in an IM that she was going to call! If I hadn't known, I wouldn't of answered it! Iwill say it does leave me wondering sometimes who called. But then I figure if they didn't feel it important enough to leave a messege, then it must not be important to me.
Also, does anyone else leave phone numbers that they want to save, in Caller ID? Sort of like a built in phone book!

 

[oxfordcircus]

I screen and don't answer for unknown numbers unless they're local.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

Not only do I not answer if I don't know who it is, I don't answer if I don't want to talk to the person on the other end. I only answer the phone (home and cell) for a few people. It worked until all those other people started calling me at work I really need an assistant to start screening my calls

 

[Christine]

I don't have Caller ID because I'm too cheap! But I have it at my office and I often don't pick up the phone when I see it is someone who is a pain.

 

[azgal81]

I rarely answer my phone at home. On my home phone I don't have caller id so the person leaves a message. I will then pick up if I know who it is or call them back. Everyone that calls me knows this! My cell phone I won't answer an unknown number I figure if it's important they'll leave a message.

 

[luvwinnie]

I never answer if I don't know who it is...and sometimes I don't answer even if I DO know the person!

 

[Cool-Beans]

I rarely even look at the Caller ID. Could be friends of the kids, could be a friend of mine calling from some line in a hospital, someone could be stranded somewhere, etc. I just answer it.

The phrase, "I'm right in the middle of something, can I call you back?" gets used sometimes. Nevermind that I'm in the middle of laundry and DISing.

 

[Princess89]

I screen all of my calls through caller ID. I also use it as a built in phone book.

 

[ElizK]

I screen calls, too. If I don't recognize the number, or if I don't want to talk I let the answering maching pick it up.

 

[phorsenuf]

I always answer the phone if it comes up unknown or out of area or just shows a number. With my son living overseas it comes up a variety of ways. Plus with the boys always on the go they could be calling from a wide range of places. Now, if a call comes in and I know who it is and I don't want to talk with them, then I will let it ring.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I have caller ID and screen calls - I never answer "unknown" . I always answer the phone for names I don't know (provided that they are local and by local in mean in the town I live in), Sometimes when I'm feeling fiesty, I'll answer the "unknown" and read them riot act that I'm on DO NOT CALL lists, so stop calling me.

 

[Toot Sweet]

I screen, and I never answer unknown numbers. Of course I don't answer either way, normally! I just call everyone back when I feel like it!

 

[laurie31]

I absolutely do!! That's why we GOT caller ID. It has saved us TONS of mooney, because I'm a complete wuss with telemarketers, especially the ones collecting for charity. I *know* I would be better off making a donation on my own, because the telemarketing company takes a HUGE cut, but dang, they tell me about widows of police officers, or homeless animals, or cancer research, or disabled veterans (all worthy causes IMHO) ...and suddenly $25 is gone from our account. DH actually made a catagory in the budget called "UTSN" (unable to say no) When we saw how much was going in there...we got caller ID.

And yes, I save numbers in the caller ID, so I don't have to write them down and I can just push a button and call them back

ETA - DH will sometimes answer "unknown" calls. We are also on the Do Not Call list. He'll tell them they're in violation of the law and if they call back we'll charge them with harassment (he loves this - but I cringe! LOL) All I can think of is that the telemarketer is some poor thing trying to eek out a living, but Brad figures they should go find a less-obnoxious job. He shows no mercy, even to the ones calling for charity. He askes them we'll be happy to give the same about that THEY gave. He figures if the cause is so compelling, they (the caller) must have made their own donation, right? RIGHT?? Um...nope. <click>

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

Caller ID is my friend. If it doesn't come up on my caller ID I wait to see if they leave a message and then call them back if necessary. I don't like talking to people I don't know and that way I avoid telemarketers too. I have everyone's phone numbers in my phone so if I know you your name will come up.

 

[trip]

I never answer if I don't know who it is...and sometimes I don't answer even if I DO know the person!

That's what I do. I do listen for a message in case it's really important. If it is, I pick up.

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

That's what I do. I do listen for a message in case it's really important. If it is, I pick up.

See, that's my problem. I don't use my house phone, just my cell phone so I can't listen to the message while the person is leaving it and pick up. This is going to sound really strange, but I don't even know my home phone number, I just use my cell. I have only lived here since August and all I know is that the number starts with 924.

 

[U2_rocks!]

I actually HATE not knowing who was calling, so if the caller ID said "unknown" it would drive me nuts! Therefore, I would answer it. I have occasionally not answered the phone when I saw it was someone who calls for my nanny, and the nanny has left. Or, if it's clearly for D and he's not there. But usually I answer it no matter what, or I call out to DH or our nanny "your call!" and let them get it.

It helps that we don't get telemarketers or survey people here!

 

[Aidensmom]

I'm not even sure why we have caller ID, because we rarely look at it - we just never answer the phone. Seriously, we are really bad about answering the home phone or even checking our messages as most everyone we WANT to talk to calls on our cell phones. When the phone rings, we just don't pay any attention to it unless we are expecting someone to call. We check the answering machine only a couple of times a week.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

Pretty much the only person who calls my home phone (other than the occasional telemarketer) is my mother. So if the caller i.d. doesn't have my parents number on it, I don't usually answer it. Everyone else calls my cell phone all the time.

Now when it comes to my cell, I'll sometimes answer it if I don't recognize the number...it really depends on my mood.

 

[L107ANGEL]

I love the caller id! Unknown numbers just don't get picked up.