How did I receive this call?

[merdok]

I have recenlty recieved 2 telephone calls from the same number, they are from a person as I can hear breathing on the other end of the phone.

The mystery here is that the number which appears on my caller-id and on 1471 is 00000 920220, now according to my telephony provider this number does not exist and indeed if I attempt to call it back it tells me that I have dialed incorrectly.

Does anyone have any idea how this call is being made and possibly any speculcation on who it may be from?

[andy hughes]

You've probably received a call from one of the many multi-dialling call centres which are trying to sell you something. their computer will dial a large number of homes simultaneously, and the call centre employee will come on the line and check which ones have responded, and may either pursue the conversation themselves, or pass it on - this would explain why you can hear someone breathing, but not speaking. It's not as sinister as it sounds! the inability to dial back also indicates a computer-generated calling system, which refuses return calls for obvious reasons - the number of irate householders calling back to ask to be left alone would jam their system!

Go to this website www.donotcall.gov and sign up to be deleted from these company's call lists. You won't eliminate all calls, but you should loose a good 90% of them. 

[merdok]

That makes sense, but how does it explain the number, surely a number like that would not exist.

[Dudley]

You could also register with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) which makes it illegal for anyone to make unsolicited sales calls to your number. It takes about four weeks to be fully operational but during this time if any such calls do come through, a mere mention of the TPS will have the caller immediately ending the call. It is a very simple process to register and will not affect your genuine callers. http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/

[smudge]

We registered with TPS & don't get anymore nuisance telephone calls these days.

[palfreyman18]

Very strange.............. usually, almost always, when anonymous salesmen phone people's numbers they usually withhold their own number. Something is not as it seems. We used to get a lot of anonymous salesmen but we subscribed to the "x" directory or something like that and we dont get any anonymous callers anymore, none whatsoever! The actual number itself seems really strange though..........

[andy hughes]

Re. your second point - the 'ring back' equipment probably registers a dummy number, which, as you say, does not exist, but that's the idea - to prevent you ringing back.

[merdok]

Aah that could explain it. Thank you for your help everyone!

[merdok]

Thanks for all your help guys. all I needed was a little patience 'in a pickle' was right. It was an indian call centre trying to sell me BT services.

[fly258]

You can always sign up to "Anonymous Call Reject" which will not allow you to receive calls from anyone who witholds their number. Works well for call centres and double glazing companies etc.

[Chillum]

andy, I tried that donotcall site, it asks for a 3 digit area code, like most people, I have a 5 digit area code.I  tried to split the number up, but no joy. any ideas?

[simms]

You could also register (free) with the telephone prefernce service - something like www.tps.co.uk