How do you use caller id?

[disneysteve]

DS: I think that the reason that you want to answer your calls is because of the profession that you are in. I totally understand why you answer your calls but, most of us are not in an emergency situation where it is necessary to answer our calls. I also think that you are sensitive to people's needs. Wish all physicians had your sensitivity.

Thank you, Aleta, though I don't really think my profession plays into this. I do get work-related calls on my cell, but those are virtually always from known callers - my answering service or a couple of companies that we provide medical services for, so they show up on the caller ID. I don't get work calls on my home phone, though.

Basically, I just can't see myself, or my wife for that matter, not answering the phone when it rings.

[photo]

If "caller unknown" shows up on my phone, 99/100 times it is a political survey, marketer, or robo-call (hang-up call), so I've learned to not to answer those calls. I did have a fun time once, though, arguing with a guy who "guaranteed" he could save me money on my mortgage. I guaranteed him he couldn't. I asked how much he'd be willing to pay me if he could save me money. It took him awhile to figure out that we didn't have a mortgage... Also, many of those calls scream on my answering machine, "Call IMMEDIATELY and we can help you wipe out all of your credit card debt!" Funny, since I've never had any.

My cell phone is different. Almost no one has that number, so when it rings, I answer. I just can't be bothered with my cell ringing while I'm driving or out in a store. If it's a business-type call, then I won't have the information I need for the call anyway so I'd rather be called at home. Also, many companies and utilities insist on having a phone number, so they always get the home phone and never the cell.

[dawnwes]

Caller ID is a free feature with Ooma phone service, which is also *almost* free. It is subject to a government tax fee, which is currently $11 per year and will go up to $30 per year in 2012.

I use it to see who is calling all the time, particularly if I am on the phone with a friend and expecting a business related call.

Dawn

[BuckyBadger]

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.

I do exactly this.

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

Yup. I'll call you back in about 30 seconds if you're a real person with whom I would like to speak.

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.

You haven't really addressed your issue with the "immediately return any actual important call" technique. That seems to be the norm. If my phone range three times in a row from any number -- listed or not -- I would answer it immediately. So many people I know don't always answer their phones that if I call and DON'T leave a message, I'll text them that they do or don't need to call me back, just so that they don't see a "missed call" with my number and worry if it's something important, but they also don't have to even go to the trouble of listening to a message I might have left.

Why would you feel the need to be especially polite to someone who was wasting your time? When we get these calls, I say, "Sorry. I'm not interested." And then I hang up. Most times, that probably takes less than 15 seconds.

I guess I just don't see that as such an inconvenience. In fact, I'd rather answer the phone on the first ring and deal with it than listen to the phone ring 4 times before the machine picks up and then listen to the caller leaving a message (or listen to the recorded message playing).

I get a lot of calls from my undergrad and graduate schools seeking donations. They are usually nice enough kids who are volunteering to "chat" with alums and then ask us for money. I hate to cut the kids off since they're not bad kids and they aren't professional telemarketers, but I also have a very specific donation schema and their phone call isn't going to sway me one way or the other.

And as far as the "listening to the phone ring" thing, it's easy with my cell to hit the "ignore" button and then the phone is silent until 30 seconds later when I get a chime that says I've got a new voicemail. Or no chime, and I don't have to worry about it!