# Do you screen phone calls with Caller ID? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 7, 2015, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-screen-phone-calls-with-caller-id/724475 "2015-07-07T14:50:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-screen-phone-calls-with-caller-id/724475/21 "2015-07-07T17:13:50Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > I always answer unless I’m in the middle of something that can’t be interrupted. Answering a phone is really pretty easy once you get the hang of it! Even quicker & easier to press the little red button and hang up on the telemarketers preemptively. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-screen-phone-calls-with-caller-id/724475/22 "2015-07-07T17:29:48Z")
Yes. I have a landline and that is the number I give out to businesses, doctor’s offices, etc. I rarely answer the phone and lately it’s all calls from the Red Cross wanting me to give blood (I’m tired of botched tries on my arm, I’ll go when I’m ready to go). Since I work from home, I see most of the calls that come through. I press the speakerphone button twice to hang up on them. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-screen-phone-calls-with-caller-id/724475/23 "2015-07-07T17:46:55Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > I had to triple-check the date on this thread to be sure it wasn’t some kind of super-necro, and then was wondering if it was a hoax, but I believe the OP is actually genuine. > > Most normal people have been screening calls for decades. It’s much, much more bizarre to think that there’s anyone who still answers the phone without knowing who it is (or if an unfamiliar / blocked number that isn’t ID’d, that they wouldn’t at least _have_ caller ID). > > Also what kind of plan do you have where you’re charged by the call?? Most have unlimited calling or at least a fairly high base limit for number of minutes. > > Also, nobody I know except my parents and grandparents still have a landline (and they have caller ID on that too). Most use a cell as their primary / only phone and have been for years. I asked the question because my husband will answer his cell phone regardless. He’ll look at the CID, answer, then get all pissed off if it’s a telemarketer. Guess I need to know if there are other crazies out there who do the same… As for being charged by the call, we have AT&T Go Phone plans, so a dime per minute or twice that per text, whether incoming or outgoing. Since we both have flip phones, we have to text on the number pad, so we rarely bother with that. As little as I use our “home” number, it costs maybe $100 for the year. Spousal unit uses his more often - his parents call and talk a fair bit, so his bill is closer to $200 per year. Our cell plan before that was about $100/month, plus the landline was on top of that, so we’ve saved a good chunk, even going to pay-per-call. And people like my mom, who live in an area with crappy to non-existant cell coverage, still rely on landlines. She’ll use her cell to call me (to avoid LD charges) and she’s got to go outside to get a signal. So I don’t get calls if it’s raining at her house. ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-screen-phone-calls-with-caller-id/724475/24 "2015-07-07T17:51:01Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > I always answer unless I’m in the middle of something that can’t be interrupted. Answering a phone is really pretty easy once you get the hang of it! If it’s a telemarketer, I just hang up on them, or fuck with them, depending on my mood. I don’t think anyone here said it was difficult. Whacking myself in the head is easy, but not whacking myself in the head is easy AND not annoying! ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-screen-phone-calls-with-caller-id/724475/25 "2015-07-07T22:44:43Z")
[QUOTE=FairyChatMom] Why would you answer the phone just because it rings? [/QUOTE] Yeah, [what’s up with that?](https://media2.wnyc.org/i/0/350/c/80/1/Thurber_wrongnumber.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-screen-phone-calls-with-caller-id/724475/26 "2015-07-08T01:09:15Z")
I don’t answer calls I don’t recognize unless I feel like playing microsoft/geeksquad games. Unfortunately that didn’t work when the bill collectors kept calling for whoever had my number before I got it. They would call over and over all day long if I didn’t answer the phone. Blocking the number didn’t help, they would just call from another number. Telling them repeatedly they had the wrong number didn’t work either. Getting a lawyer did, my phone has been very quiet lately. Too bad, I’d put up with a few annoying calls knowing I can collect $$$ every time they call. Unfortunately I can’t block ‘private caller’ calls. Some of my work calls come through that way and every now and again I get a junk call when I answer. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-screen-phone-calls-with-caller-id/724475/27 "2015-07-08T01:20:46Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > We got rid of our land line and our “home phone” is now a cell on the pay-per-call plan. .., We did the same thing about 5 years ago. Haven’t regretted it for a minute. Yes, I screen calls, in fact, if it’s an out of state number, I rarely answer it. If your plan is a “minutes per month” plan, you’re going to love the multitude of calls you get for Solar energy. Probably 3 a week. And they don’t take no for an answer. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-screen-phone-calls-with-caller-id/724475/28 "2015-07-08T01:36:53Z")
No — but our landline doesn’t have caller ID and our cell phones are never on making it basically a moot point. I do use the answering machine to screen calls though which is basically the same idea. The annoying part is friends who get the machine, don’t leave a message before they hang up, and then expect a call back. “Well, didn’t you see my number under missed calls?” Nope — don’t have any such thing. Secondly are people who know how rarely we even turn on the cell phones, leave a message on it, don’t call the house, and then get honked at not getting called back. Look, I understand how much you like wireless and even I have to admit its cool. But I’m not changing my life around just for that. Hey – its not just for ET – phone the home dammit. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-screen-phone-calls-with-caller-id/724475/29 "2015-07-08T01:47:50Z")
And it’s all your fault I screen my phone calls No matter who calls I gotta screen my phone calls Yep, I screen. My ringer is usually on silent, anyway. Which made it really weird the last three times Mom called and I happened to be picking the phone up to check the time or weather or something, exactly when she was calling. Takes me a second to comprehend I need to answer the phone. I rarely talk to anyone but Mom on the phone, the only others are business or appointments. Otherwise, it’s all text or messaging. I very rarely get a telemarketing call. Same cell # since 1995. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-screen-phone-calls-with-caller-id/724475/30 "2015-07-08T03:14:09Z")
A month or two ago someone here mentioned [nomorobo.com](http://nomorobo.com), and I signed up. It’s good for folks who already have some form of digital phone service (e.g. FiOS, in my case). The requirement is the ability to configure your line to ring in two places at once. Once you do so, the nomorobo number immediately searches its huge blacklist for the number and usually spots it, immediately hanging up the number. I think that the caller actually hears a message that instructs them how to prove they aren’t a junk call, something few will bother with, but an occasional false positive on a call you want might be passed through. I still get a few junk calls a day, but the phone rings once and the call disappears. Bliss. ---
**Author:** ![No\_umlaut\_for\_U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea5d25/32.png) [@No\_umlaut\_for\_U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_umlaut_for_U)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-screen-phone-calls-with-caller-id/724475/31 "2015-07-08T03:19:48Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > No — but our landline doesn’t have caller ID and our cell phones are never on making it basically a moot point. I do use the answering machine to screen calls though which is basically the same idea. > > The annoying part is friends who get the machine, don’t leave a message before they hang up, and then expect a call back. “Well, didn’t you see my number under missed calls?” Nope — don’t have any such thing. > > Secondly are people who know how rarely we even turn on the cell phones, leave a message on it, don’t call the house, and then get honked at not getting called back. Look, I understand how much you like wireless and even I have to admit its cool. But I’m not changing my life around just for that. Hey – its not just for ET – phone the home dammit. Hell, yes. Although we do have CID on the landline, I probably answer it one out of every 20 calls or so. The 800 version of our phone number goes to a large company with frequent TV ads. I turn on the cell phone, but fairly rarely, as I’d be charging the damn thing 3 times a week. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-screen-phone-calls-with-caller-id/724475/32 "2015-07-08T03:26:21Z")
My husband will answer every time it rings, so he is definitely in the minority. I don’t answer if I don’t recognize the number. If they don’t leave a message, I will google the number. If it’s a from somebody or someplace I will never want to talk to, I add it to the contact “Spam” that has a custom ring tone of silence. I have about 50 numbers on there now. It doesn’t reject them; I just don’t ever know they’re calling. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-screen-phone-calls-with-caller-id/724475/33 "2015-07-08T11:02:19Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > A month or two ago someone here mentioned [nomorobo.com](http://nomorobo.com), and I signed up. Just tried - AT&T doesn’t play with them. Drat… ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-screen-phone-calls-with-caller-id/724475/34 "2015-07-08T11:46:56Z")
I only have a cell phone. I have caller ID blocked and only give my number to close friends, who know I am touchy about who has my number. When my phone rings, 99% of the time it is a contact calling. Other than my gf I let most of these go to voicemail and reply as needed via text. If a business needs a phone number, I give my work number. Works for me. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-screen-phone-calls-with-caller-id/724475/35 "2015-07-08T13:08:46Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > And it’s all your fault > I screen my phone calls > No matter who calls > I gotta screen my phone calls I was listening to that song the other week and thinking about how, with cell phones, voice mail and caller ID, the concept of screening calls via answering machine is nearly as quaint as Jim Croce telling an operator to keep the dime. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-screen-phone-calls-with-caller-id/724475/36 "2015-07-08T13:10:43Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > No — but our landline doesn’t have caller ID and our cell phones are never on making it basically a moot point. I do use the answering machine to screen calls though which is basically the same idea. > > The annoying part is friends who get the machine, don’t leave a message before they hang up, and then expect a call back. “Well, didn’t you see my number under missed calls?” Nope — don’t have any such thing. No > [@](#): > > Secondly are people who know how rarely we even turn on the cell phones, leave a message on it, don’t call the house, and then get honked at not getting called back. Look, I understand how much you like wireless and even I have to admit its cool. But I’m not changing my life around just for that. Hey – its not just for ET – phone the home dammit. NO! I just don’t get people at all. They think you have a phone, ergo you are available to them at any time of the day or the night. NO! And the more you expect it the more I resent calling you back. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-screen-phone-calls-with-caller-id/724475/37 "2015-07-08T13:25:43Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > So, I ask you, do you automatically answer when your phone rings or do you screen via CID? Screen! I’ve had caller ID since it came out. True story: I had a friend who, when caller ID came out, said that “only drug dealers need that!” I said it was handy to avoid people you didn’t want to talk to. She disagreed with me…until our mutual boss who had no concept of boundaries called her on a Saturday afternoon, and my friend answered the phone thinking it was her date for that night. My friend was on the phone for hours. She ordered caller ID the next day. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-screen-phone-calls-with-caller-id/724475/38 "2015-07-08T13:34:20Z")
I have to forward all of my cell phone calls to a land line, because I have poor service in my area. My cell phone is my business phone, which is listed online and in the yellow pages, so I answer every call, unless it is is from an area code I don’t recognize. I have two land lines, one for business and one for personal calls. I like the convenience of having five extension phones throughout my house, so I don’t have to track down a cell phone every time it rings. I have both lines running through modems on a PC that screens my calls for me. I use [PhoneTray](https://www.phonetray.com/)software, which uses a large online database of telemarketers, as well as my own blacklist, so most junk calls get rejected automatically. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-screen-phone-calls-with-caller-id/724475/39 "2015-07-08T13:57:26Z")
> [@GrumpyBunny](#): > > True story: I had a friend who, when caller ID came out, said that “only drug dealers need that!” True story: I have a buddy who occasionally sells a little weed. I list him as “My Dealer” in my contacts. A few weeks ago we had company for dinner. My phone was in the other room and a call came in which I ignored. My gf looked at the phone and yelled, “It’s your dealer, honey”.😃 ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-screen-phone-calls-with-caller-id/724475/40 "2015-07-08T14:10:24Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > True story: I have a buddy who occasionally sells a little weed. I list him as “My Dealer” in my contacts. A few weeks ago we had company for dinner. My phone was in the other room and a call came in which I ignored. My gf looked at the phone and yelled, “It’s your dealer, honey”.😃 Hah! Love it! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-screen-phone-calls-with-caller-id/724475.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-screen-phone-calls-with-caller-id/724475.md?page=3)