# Is there a way to hide my telephone number from showing up on someone's Caller ID? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 30, 2005, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-hide-my-telephone-number-from-showing-up-on-someones-caller-id/328632 "2005-10-30T21:47:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-hide-my-telephone-number-from-showing-up-on-someones-caller-id/328632/1 "2005-10-30T21:47:13Z")
No, I don’t have any prank calls lined up. I’m just wondering if it is possible to not have my number show up on a caller id machine. Sometimes, I call somewhere from work and would prefer not to have my work’s name and number come up(especially if I’m calling regarding other employment!). I thought there was an extension I could dial first, then wait for the dial tone and dial the regular number like normal. Anyone know? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-hide-my-telephone-number-from-showing-up-on-someones-caller-id/328632/2 "2005-10-30T21:52:05Z")
Yes, dial \*67 (1167 for rotary phones) then the number you wish to call. There may be a per-call charge associated with this feature. Some phone companies also allow you to subscribe to a feature that always blocks your number, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-hide-my-telephone-number-from-showing-up-on-someones-caller-id/328632/3 "2005-10-30T21:54:14Z")
Well, here you just contact the phone company (Telstra) and request that your number not be displayed. But it’s not a blanket thing: > [@](#): > > Disclosure of your Calling Line Identification > > If you have call blocking or line blocking enabled on your phone line, or you have a Silent Line, your Calling Line Identification (CLI) will generally not be disclosed to third parties. > > However there are some circumstances in which your CLI will always be disclosed. > > You cannot block CLI on calls made by you or someone else on your phone line: > to the emergency call service (000); > on internet dial up calls made to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) etc… ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-hide-my-telephone-number-from-showing-up-on-someones-caller-id/328632/4 "2005-10-30T22:02:24Z")
Then there are services on the other end that let phone subscribers block any blocked number. It is a case or the dueling features. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-hide-my-telephone-number-from-showing-up-on-someones-caller-id/328632/5 "2005-10-30T23:44:05Z")
You can also use calling cards, well it will show a CID #, but not yours. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-hide-my-telephone-number-from-showing-up-on-someones-caller-id/328632/6 "2005-10-30T23:51:57Z")
You don’t have a cell phone, I take it? ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-hide-my-telephone-number-from-showing-up-on-someones-caller-id/328632/7 "2005-10-30T23:57:01Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Then there are services on the other end that let phone subscribers block any blocked number. It is a case or the dueling features. True, but at least with Qwest, I just called them and had my ID blocked. No charge. Then, sometimes the person I’m calling has the feature you mention, but if you still want to call, you just hit \*82, then dial the number again and it bypasses the call blocking you have for that one call. I expect most phone companies have this. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-hide-my-telephone-number-from-showing-up-on-someones-caller-id/328632/8 "2005-10-31T01:14:13Z")
I notice that the OP is in China, which makes most of the US and Australian advice posted here suspect. I have no idea what the situation is in China.