[Question] Call Tracing

[AmithS]

Hello All,

Can someone point me in the right direction here or even better help me out!

For the last 4 weeks, I get a call from a private number around the same time, week days only and as soon as I answer the person hangs up!

How do I find out who this person is?

Regards,

[Mark Atkinson]

If you don't answer, what happens? Do they call again?

My extensive movie-going experience leads me to believe that you can only trace a call after you've been on the line with them for quite some time

(Sorry, I wasn't much help was I?)

[mother]

Sorry, but I have to ask: Is there any reason to suspect a "rabbit in the pot"-type scenario?

[Perform Computers]

This is why I never answer "Private number" anymore. I always used to, but screw it. Luckily I have two phones, so if it's someone I know who really needs to get a hold of me, then they call me on the bat line

If it's a client, tough. Leave a voice message & I'll call you back.

My advice: Let it ring. Do not answer. They'll run out of steam soon enough.

[Dave A]

Over the years I've known quite a few people who have gone through this.

My advice: Let it ring. Do not answer. They'll run out of steam soon enough.

I agree they'll run out of steam - the "soon enough" part may vary. I tend to say "eventually."

My advice is treat it just like any other phonecall. Someone's blowing off steam. Don't feed it by letting them know they're getting to you.

The less it bothers you, the sooner it goes away.

Not once has any of the people I've known who've been through this ever figured out who was making the calls or why. So don't even waste energy speculating.

[Perform Computers]

Get Jack Bauer to start a trace.

[AmithS]

Thanks for the advice. I also taught of that to just stop answering any private number calls in future and if it is important the person will leave a message - How many of you do this? (Dave can we poll this possibly? I would really love to know what others do with private number calls legit or not)

When they called yesterday I decided not to say a word, just answer and I think the person got taken by surprise as they waited for me to say something and then realised I am not going to you could hear them stumble to put the phone receiver down as they didn't know what to do...

[Perform Computers]

Just don't answer. If it's important, they'll leave a message.

[Just Gone]

Private numbers are the most frustrating things around - they are either call centres wanting to sell their product to you or someone wanting to "make you more visible" on google or some crap out there. Sad for them because we start to ignore them now or are just blatantly rude to them !! I used to get up to 6 phone calls a day from a company called webmail untill I very frustratingly told them to piss off and get some sort of system in place whereby they know who they have bugged and dont want to be bothered anymore !!
As far as I know there is no way to trace a private call .

[gordo]

ironic, my friend works for webmail hahahaha! sorry, not to change the topic. I also went through a stage with private calls, I thought I had an admirer, but eventually they gave up. must have found someone better than me hahahaha!

now days I just dont answer. So id agree thats the best thing to do

[daveob]

If they want to waste their phone bill / airtime, etc calling me, good luck to them.

Telemarketers hold a special position - they the only people that I hang up on without saying a word.

[AmithS]

Agreed Private Numbers\Blocking your number should not be allowed

[Dave A]

Our switchboard's premicells are private numbers. It was set up that way on recommendation of the installers to keep those lines available for outgoing calls, and also because there's no hunting line facility or message service if someone calls back on it and the line happens to be busy.

For the people who don't answer when we call, we assume it's the private number issue, and just call from our after-hours standby cellphone which resides at the office during the day.

We only leave messages on cellphone numbers if we've failed to get through after a few attempts, and even then it's with the full knowledge that most people don't get around to returning the call. We do it more to let them know we've been trying to get hold of them, and we'll just keep trying 'til we get through.

[Just Gone]

lately when I get a call from a private number and it is some telesales person I just say hold on and put the phone down on the desk or in the car still connected. If they phone back i do the same - They soon get the hint !!

Unfortunately it is rough on them................... but it is just as rough on me - especially when I am running an ad in a newspaper or something - it seems my private number calls goes up with telesales !!!

[AmithS]

I recently discovered that my Samsung i9000 Android has a feature to reject all private number calls automatically.

Only problem is it cuts the call with an engaged tone and doesn't send the call to voice mail!