Do you check the number before you pick up? Do you ever not pick up based on who is calling? Also if were not home, and there was a number on your caller ID you did not recognize, but there was no message, would you call the number back?
Ok, I find this odd. Sometimes I find numbers on my called ID I do not recognize, yet the person does not leave a message. I do not call that number back. I always assume, it is a wrong number or a telemarketer.
The other thing that bugs me is, when I do the phone work for the dog rescue group. People will leave me messages, mostly about finding a new home for their dog. I will call back, leave a long detailed message about that we are not taking in any new dogs, I give other phone numbers to try etc.. Yet these people will call back my house number and say "Oh I saw your number on my caller ID"...yet they do not check their message first? If they did, they would know they do not have to call back.
OK..sorry, just wondering what the rest of the world does about caller ID?
Oh, and I am bad. If somebody calls for my husband and he is not home, I do not pick up. I mean I know his friends do not want to talk to me LOL...
I always pick up if I know the number.

By Conni on Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 02:11 pm:

I am the worlds worst about checking messages.
I always forget to check the answering machine. It has embarrassed me on several occassions too.

My caller id comes up when someone is calling, then the numbers roll off to a call log. Which I dont check that often when I get home either.

The best way to get ahold of me and/or leave a msg is on my cell phone. lol I always have it with me and I always check my msg on there sometime during the day.

By Karen~moderator on Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 02:21 pm:

I check mine before I pick up the phone. If it's an *out of area* number, or an 800 type number, often I don't answer, because those are usually solicitations.

The only time I return calls to numbers I don't know, is *if* someone leaves me a message that is obviously in error - happened just last week and it sounded important, so I returned the call to let them know they had not reach the person they intended to.

By Colette on Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 02:25 pm:

Yes, I always check to see who it is. Yes, sometimes I will not pick up. I don't usually check to see who called and didn't leave a message if I wasn't home.

By Reds9298 on Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 02:29 pm:

We got Caller ID originally to screen calls from DH's work. He was getting calls at all hours of the night for a "crisis" at work (using that term loosely). We decided that a) he's not a neurosurgeon so NO ONE should be calling for him at night, and b)he's not getting paid enough to be on-call 24-7, and c) family comes first around here.

We always check Caller ID before picking up, if it's an unrecognized # we DON'T pick up, and yes, if we just don't feel like talking we don't answer. We also have Voice Mail through the phone company, and we always check messages.

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 03:14 pm:

No caller ID on our landline. We do have caller id on the cellphones, and if it's a strange number, we don't do anything about it! They usually haven't left a message, either.

By Mommmie on Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 04:18 pm:

Oh, yes, we check caller ID first and sometimes we answer and sometimes we don't. I get "not available" for cell phone callers that I know and want to talk to, so I can't base my decision on that.

Now if I had my number posted somewhere for some reason or my child was out somewhere I always answer. We are on the Do Not Call list so we don't get telemarketers anymore.

I check caller ID before I check messages and sometimes I just pick up and call back. Sometimes I listen to the message first but it takes longer.

By Crystal915 on Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 05:31 pm:

I check my caller ID, but rarely don't answer it just because of who is calling. I am HORRIBLE about checking messages, but I do check them before calling back. If there is no message and a number I don't recognize I don't call it back. My house phone actually forwards to my cell anyway, so I do press reject call sometimes, if I'm not in a position to take the call.

By Annie2 on Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 07:21 pm:

My answering announces the number out loud. I pick up if I feel like talking to the person. I never call back numbers that I don't know; but there are very few of those.

By Bellajoe on Sunday, April 30, 2006 - 06:58 pm:

I do check the caller ID and yes, i screen the call if a) i don't recognize the number and b) if i just don't feel like talking at the moment.

I don't call people back when the leave a message and don't have the right number. I never come home and check the numbers on the caller ID to see who called, i just check my voicemail for that.

By Yjja123 on Sunday, April 30, 2006 - 08:56 pm:

I screen all calls. I only answer those I know. I do not call back any numbers I do not know. Nor do I call back anyone who does not leave a message.

By Tonya on Monday, May 1, 2006 - 09:30 am:

I always listen to messages first, I screen for sales calls, I don't call numbers back I don't know but I do check the caller ID log and call people back that I do know cause they are usually calling for a reason. Allot of people I know don't leave messages because they know I will see them on the ID and call back anyways.

By Dawnk777 on Monday, May 1, 2006 - 10:43 am:

My youngest sister is horrible about returning calls! Once she called me. I called back, fairly soon after she called, but she wasn't home. She never did calle me back. It must not have been too important.

By Enchens on Monday, May 1, 2006 - 03:42 pm:

We definitely screen calls around here! And if we don't want to talk, we don't pick up. We figure it it's important, the person will leave a message. I pick up the phone for dh's friends, unless I have specific instructions to not do so. (This happens during an important game, especially during playoffs-for ANY sport.)

By Insaneusmcwife on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 - 06:37 am:

Now that we have moved to VA we don't get many calls from people we don't want to talk to (unless its 2 a.m. ugghhhhh!!!! those darn Marines!!!)so I don't even bother to check the caller id anymore. I mainly use it as a phone book. I have noticed that when its long distance the phone rings different.