Anybody? What does "Private Caller" mean?

[leftyladyfrommo]

I see that once in a great while. I got one at 11:00 pm last nite. I never answer calls that don't identify the caller.

But what is that designation?

[Karenca]

1. It just means that someone set

their phone NOT to show their number.
It could be anyone -- you could set your phone like that too.

[lizerdbits]

2. I think it means they've blocked their name from showing up

on caller ID. I've had numbers show up but it says "Private" instead of giving a name as well as just "private" without a number at all. I don't answer them either. If it's important they'll leave a message

[VenusRising]

3. It means they have blocked their number

from being seen on caller ID. Most phone systems will let you do that by dialing *67 before you dial if you have it included in your phone package.

[Chan790]

4. The caller has one of two things:

1.) An in-line filter that blocks caller ID sending.
2.) Asked the phone company to filter their number for caller-ID sending.

It's for people who are paranoid and don't want people to know that they're calling before the receiver picks up the phone.

Sometimes telemarketers use them too.

[Orsino]

5. And it's possible to block blocked callers, too. n/t

[leftyladyfrommo]

11. How would I do that?

Don't know if I would want to but it might get rid of some really irritating callers.

I don't like to be called at home by politicians or charities. It irritates me. And I would never give anyone money over the phone.

[Orsino]

19. It's another feature...

...that I presume is offered by all the Bells now. You can pay them to block ID on your own number, but you may find that some people will be blocking calls from private numbers.

Reputable politicians and charities won't be calling you from private numbers, though.

[leftyladyfrommo]

6. I saw some of these during the recent elections - they must have been

people calling for candidates that didn't want to whole world to know their phone number.

If people don't identify themselves I don't answer - because they are always tele marketers or something. No one I know uses that function.

[achtung_circus]

7. 2 things, either

they have blocked their number, or they want to talk to my penis.

[leftyladyfrommo]

8. Excuse me? You completely lost me with that one. n/t

[lizerdbits]

10. Private parts. nt

[achtung_circus]

12. they're calling my private parts.

Yeah, I know, very lame, but the coffee hasn't kicked in. It's only half-caff.

[leftyladyfrommo]

14. Oh - now I get it. Sorry. I'm a little slow on the uptake sometimes.

No - wasn't bad. Now that you explained it to me. Just think what you will be able to do with more coffee.

[lizerdbits]

9. ..

:spray:

[YankeyMCC]

13. To me it means

I can ignore the phone and not pick up.

But as I think someone else pointed out - technically it just means they've blocked their number so your caller ID will not display their number.

[leftyladyfrommo]

15. I could see doing that if you were making obscene calls.

You know - caller ID has probably really been hard on obscene callers.

I did hear about a club where people who get off on that can call each other. I thought that was pretty novel.

[electron_blue]

16. My lawyer and doctor's office both say private caller when they call.

Also, a few days ago, I got a call at work from someone checking a job reference for someone - their call said Private Caller. It's not always telemarketers.

[Blue Diadem]

17. Our Dr's office does too.

I've heard somewhere that some offices use people working from home to make the reminder calls for appts. Don't know if it's true or not and I never thought to ask the Dr's office.

[leftyladyfrommo]

20. But they probably wouldn't be calling in the middle of the nite.

And doctor's offices would leave a message. At least mine do.

[electron_blue]

21. No, you're right. Anyone with private caller who calls past 9-5 hours doesn't get answered

at my house. In fact they take their chances calling during 9-5 LOL.

[sniffa]

18. it means

it's aLmost time to head down to the rec room for bingo.

[EstimatedProphet]

22. You're getting calls from an enlisted man

If it were an officer, it would say Major Caller.