I have thought of that, but the majority of answerphone messages are not so urgent and I'd not want people to be phoning at work or while driving. I'd prefer that people just left a message, but unfortunately people don't like to use answerphones to let you know that someone is dead or dying.
SteveW
Hard luck. At least people will know that it was the hospital or whatever and have an idea who is likely to be calling them. Better than people missing important calls because they won't anwer withheld numbers or not knowing who has called and failed to leave a message.
SteveW
This is exactly the sort of problem one would expect computers to solve.
There is also the 18185 option
Their setup charge is 4p and UK landlines are 1.7p per minute.
Mobile calls are 6p per minute, but my Three PAYG rate is 3p per minute.
Chris
Don't forget those random number dialers so many scammers use. And the only way round that is a call blocker.
If something is important and they can't get through to you by phone, they'll try another method?
Which may be too slow - not much help to send a letter if they are offering to do your operation tomorrow as there has been a cancellation.
SteveW
If I'm expecting an important call from the hospital, etc, I just switch off the call blocker. But then they usually phone my mobile. My doctor's surgery manages to leave a message with the call blocker on.
That's fine for an expected call. It doesn't work for an appointment months away, that you get a call about to bring it forward due to a cancellation and they won't leave any message due to "data protection." The shortest notice we have had was bring an appointment for a scan forward about a month - as long as we could get to the hospital in two hours time!
SteveW
And do you know you've actually missed such a call due to a call blocker?
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