Cold callers

[mybike]

It is not the number itself that is confidential, but it does identify that someone in the Household is undergoing medical treatment or investigation..... something they may not wish to be known

Also some direct dial numbers are specific to the clinics

It is a fairly simple matter to substitute a switchboard number, the telecomms provider can do it. To imagine that showing a switchboard number would amount to a breach of confidentiality is taking it to ridiculous extremes.

 

[JMAG]

To imagine that showing a switchboard number would amount to a breach of confidentiality is taking it to ridiculous extremes.

Unless it's an STD clinic perhaps? Or maybe an abortion centre? Or maybe it's best just to protect people's privacy?

 

[mybike]

Unless it's an STD clinic perhaps? Or maybe an abortion centre? Or maybe it's best just to protect people's privacy?

A general hospital switchboard number would give none of these.

 

[ufkacbln]

It is a fairly simple matter to substitute a switchboard number, the telecomms provider can do it. To imagine that showing a switchboard number would amount to a breach of confidentiality is taking it to ridiculous extremes.

A general hospital switchboard number would give none of these.

MANY CLINICS HAVE DIRECT DIAL WHICH CAN BE IDENTIFIED!!!!!

People have different reasons for not wanting relatives to know they are being treated or investigated. ...... they have the right and the NHS should observe that

 

[Drago]

Ggggrrrrrrrr...

Got up early, took Lemmy fora gentle walk along the canal. Home, light lunch, took my tablets which zonk me out a bit and flaked out on the sofa to continues my recovery programme with 40 winks.

Just start to drift off and the phone rings. It's a bloody market research company wanting to ask me loads of questions. I express my anger by giving a false answer to every single one. They wouldn't have got even that much if the lass making the call hadn't sounded so saucy.

 

[lee1980sim]

What's the point in having it then, and what about the random few people who genuinely want/need to contact you, but can't?

The point in having it is for broadband, when I last did my switching around for the best deal it was cheaper to have broadband with a landline than without, as for the few random people they obviously aren't import enough for me to care about and if they were they'd have my mobile

 

[mybike]

MANY CLINICS HAVE DIRECT DIAL WHICH CAN BE IDENTIFIED!!!!!

People have different reasons for not wanting relatives to know they are being treated or investigated. ...... they have the right and the NHS should observe that

And the telecoms supplier would have no difficulty setting up a general switchboard number to a direct line to show as the calling number. result, total anonymity.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

The point in having it is for broadband, when I last did my switching around for the best deal it was cheaper to have broadband with a landline than without, as for the few random people they obviously aren't import enough for me to care about and if they were they'd have my mobile

Until it comes to something official or some long lost person and they only have the one number......

Anyway, these things always make me go 'You what??', a bit like the people who don't answer numbers they don't recognise and so on - Life just isn't that black and white!
I doubt I would ever be trying to contact you anyway - I doubt I would be deemed 'important enough' to reach the dizzying heights of having the privilege to know you!

 

[DRHysted]

Until it comes to something official or some long lost person and they only have the one number......

Anyway, these things always make me go 'You what??', a bit like the people who don't answer numbers they don't recognise and so on - Life just isn't that black and white!
I doubt I would ever be trying to contact you anyway - I doubt I would be deemed 'important enough' to reach the dizzying heights of having the privilege to know you!

Yeah if i didn't answer blocked numbers, I'd never speak to my sister, who's number is restricted for a good reason.
You're dead right there is no black and white, just various shades of grey.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Yeah if i didn't answer blocked numbers, I'd never speak to my sister, who's number is restricted for a good reason.
You're dead right there is no black and white, just various shades of grey.

Yes, it isn't as cut and dry as that, is it??

Anyway, I wasn't talking about restricted numbers per say just normal numbers. Their loss though!

 

[lee1980sim]

Until it comes to something official or some long lost person and they only have the one number......

Anyway, these things always make me go 'You what??', a bit like the people who don't answer numbers they don't recognise and so on - Life just isn't that black and white!
I doubt I would ever be trying to contact you anyway - I doubt I would be deemed 'important enough' to reach the dizzying heights of having the privilege to know you!

Something official, that isn't done via post, weird..
Long lost person that only has the one number.. My mobile has been the same number for over 15 years my house number changes every time I change contract and is ex directory now how would a long lost person have an, at the most,18 month old ex directory number rather than a 15 year old number?
Life is whatever colour you wish to make it, be that 2 contrasting colours or a whole kaleidoscope of every colour known to man, as for being important enough to contact me, you'd have my mobile if you were, that's the only number I give out

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Something official, that isn't done via post, weird..
Long lost person that only has the one number.. My mobile has been the same number for over 15 years my house number changes every time I change contract and is ex directory now how would a long lost person have an, at the most,18 month old ex directory number rather than a 15 year old number?
Life is whatever colour you wish to make it, be that 2 contrasting colours or a whole kaleidoscope of every colour known to man, as for being important enough to contact me, you'd have my mobile if you were, that's the only number I give out

I just meant generally, I don't know your *exact* circumstances, how can I? I wouldn't take it all so literally, but at the same time, I have heard similar things over the years and it always makes me wonder.
Of course, you could be like me where nobody calls, and its probably largely cold callers on your landline anyway (answering will confirm your existence), but, and maybe it is just me, but I find totally ignoring a phone/people contacting me just a bit...... Well, odd, I mean, aren't you just a bit curious to know what it is?

Its a bit like the 'ignore' function on here. I am told when an ignored member posts something on a thread I am looking at, and I have the chance to look at it. Sometimes curiosity gets the better of me and I have to see what I am trying to ignore, albeit from a distance!

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

[QUOTE 3604228, member: 9609"]I do that too, i go out of the room, shut the door and then peek back through the keyhole[/QUOTE]

Each to their own I guess, I can understand what was said about him only being in his current address so long, so things are all current and up to date, etc.

I could never ignore the phone though (although it helps if the volume is turned down), it isn't how I'm made*, and it goes against human nature to be curious (I'm as unnatural as they come in other respects, don't worry!! ). But, each to their own.



* - Although most phones now have a small screen so you can get a rough idea of who it is anyway.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Life is whatever colour you wish to make it, be that 2 contrasting colours or a whole kaleidoscope of every colour known to man, as for being important enough to contact me, you'd have my mobile if you were, that's the only number I give out

To be honest, I think I am just impressed by your complete logic to the problem. Could I do it?? Probably not as I would always wonder about people who are genuine in some form or another (as to how is another question) and hey, I am too curious, but, the screen on the phone helps give a rough idea of who is calling anyway.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

By the way, has anyone had any calls from 'The Saver's Club'??

They have been getting my Mum quite a lot recently, despite her repeatedly asking them to take her off their list.

I did a search on their number (02079 460172) and on a page, someone was saying that they had been told that it is a company to reduce cold calls.

Hmmmmm!