If someone calls and doesn’t leave a message (text or voice), do they assume they should receive a call back?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on who called. My sister? Yes, I assume she expects a call back. Random number I don’t recognize? No, not going to call them back.

OP here. I’m not talking about random numbers. Just regular friends or acquaintances or even work colleagues (not my boss). I’ve never felt the need to call back if they don’t bother to leave a message but perhaps I’m wrong

Yes, I call back. That’s the benefit of the caller ID and list of missed calls. Why would you think they dialed you, by mistake? Regular friends / family I call back, I assume they just wanted to say hi and chat, so when have time, I call back.

With work colleagues, I’d check sometimes with a text, but most usually would have emailed or texted.

Very very very few people leave voicemail anymore.

Yeah I get that voicemail is outdated. I never use it. But if I call someone I usually follow up with a text if I want a call a back. If I don’t need a call back I don’t leave any message. I’ve assumed through the years that that is what others people expect too. Thus my original question, do people who don’t leave any message expect call back?

I ask because I was castigated by a work colleague (not a supervisor or superior) for not calling them back. And honestly, I just always thought that no message = no expectation for a call back

Yes, they do. It may not be urgent (they would probably text in that case and also try again) but they expect you to either call them back or shoot them a text to see what the call was about. No one leaves voicemails.

NP. I didn’t get the memo that someone else’s simply dialing my phone number means I’m expected to call them back. You can call or text or email me, but if you don’t indicate the reason why you’re contacting me or ask me to follow up with you, I’ll take that to mean you decided whatever you were calling me about was unnecessary. If it is important, you’ll reach out again. If it’s not important, don’t bother me.

+1,000,000.

FFS. Leaving a voice message is not “rude,” it is a minimal effort that I certainly expect anyone to do if they expect me to undertake the time/effort of calling them back! This thread is astonishing to me.

Leaving a voice mail isn’t rude. But it is pointless. No one listens anymore.

Because so many people are so bad at leaving messages. I freaking hated getting messages that just said, “Please give me call,” with no indication of the reason for the phone call. Even worse is “I have a question for you,” or “I need to ask you a favor.” Just ask your effing question or tell me what the favor is. Conversely, if you’re my mom, don’t spend 5 minutes making small talk like I’m on the other end of the call when you’re leaving voicemail. Just state the purpose of your call succinctly. If you’re skilled at leaving effective voicemails, feel free to do so.

[Anonymous]

I don't call back unless it's my immediate family. If they leave a message, and it is relevant, sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends on who called. My sister? Yes, I assume she expects a call back. Random number I don’t recognize? No, not going to call them back.

This. My dad would call bank the random number and say his missed the call. Always a scammer. It’s infuriating.

[Anonymous]

The onus is on the person calling to send the follow up text or email. I usually write an email and say "hey, i just tried calling about xyz because it would be easier to discuss on the phone. Please call me or let me know when you're available. Thanks."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on who called. My sister? Yes, I assume she expects a call back. Random number I don’t recognize? No, not going to call them back.

OP here. I’m not talking about random numbers. Just regular friends or acquaintances or even work colleagues (not my boss). I’ve never felt the need to call back if they don’t bother to leave a message but perhaps I’m wrong

Yes, I call back. That’s the benefit of the caller ID and list of missed calls. Why would you think they dialed you, by mistake? Regular friends / family I call back, I assume they just wanted to say hi and chat, so when have time, I call back.

With work colleagues, I’d check sometimes with a text, but most usually would have emailed or texted.

Very very very few people leave voicemail anymore.

Yeah I get that voicemail is outdated. I never use it. But if I call someone I usually follow up with a text if I want a call a back. If I don’t need a call back I don’t leave any message. I’ve assumed through the years that that is what others people expect too. Thus my original question, do people who don’t leave any message expect call back?

I ask because I was castigated by a work colleague (not a supervisor or superior) for not calling them back. And honestly, I just always thought that no message = no expectation for a call back

Yes, they do. It may not be urgent (they would probably text in that case and also try again) but they expect you to either call them back or shoot them a text to see what the call was about. No one leaves voicemails.

NP. I didn’t get the memo that someone else’s simply dialing my phone number means I’m expected to call them back. You can call or text or email me, but if you don’t indicate the reason why you’re contacting me or ask me to follow up with you, I’ll take that to mean you decided whatever you were calling me about was unnecessary. If it is important, you’ll reach out again. If it’s not important, don’t bother me.

+1,000,000.

FFS. Leaving a voice message is not “rude,” it is a minimal effort that I certainly expect anyone to do if they expect me to undertake the time/effort of calling them back! This thread is astonishing to me.

Leaving a voice mail isn’t rude. But it is pointless. No one listens anymore.

Because so many people are so bad at leaving messages. I freaking hated getting messages that just said, “Please give me call,” with no indication of the reason for the phone call. Even worse is “I have a question for you,” or “I need to ask you a favor.” Just ask your effing question or tell me what the favor is. Conversely, if you’re my mom, don’t spend 5 minutes making small talk like I’m on the other end of the call when you’re leaving voicemail. Just state the purpose of your call succinctly. If you’re skilled at leaving effective voicemails, feel free to do so.

I guess mom cheated out on speech and social skills therapy when you were younger. Those 5 minutes making small talk in fact is the purpose of the call.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t.

I sometimes do not leave a message when calling others so would not expect to receive a call or message back.

[Anonymous]

I personally feel if the person had something important to convey then they would leave me a voice at least….

[Anonymous]

Absolutely not

[Anonymous]

I didn't realize how voice mail is becoming a thing of the past until my kids became old enough to have phones. Neither one of them has bothered to find out their initial password, so their mailboxes inevitably became full. Anybody who wants to leave them a message knows to text them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on who called. My sister? Yes, I assume she expects a call back. Random number I don’t recognize? No, not going to call them back.

OP here. I’m not talking about random numbers. Just regular friends or acquaintances or even work colleagues (not my boss). I’ve never felt the need to call back if they don’t bother to leave a message but perhaps I’m wrong

Yes, I call back. That’s the benefit of the caller ID and list of missed calls. Why would you think they dialed you, by mistake? Regular friends / family I call back, I assume they just wanted to say hi and chat, so when have time, I call back.

With work colleagues, I’d check sometimes with a text, but most usually would have emailed or texted.

Very very very few people leave voicemail anymore.

+1

Call back

[Anonymous]

If it’s my husband or kids I call back. For all others I call back if they left a message.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on who called. My sister? Yes, I assume she expects a call back. Random number I don’t recognize? No, not going to call them back.

OP here. I’m not talking about random numbers. Just regular friends or acquaintances or even work colleagues (not my boss). I’ve never felt the need to call back if they don’t bother to leave a message but perhaps I’m wrong

Yes, I call back. That’s the benefit of the caller ID and list of missed calls. Why would you think they dialed you, by mistake? Regular friends / family I call back, I assume they just wanted to say hi and chat, so when have time, I call back.

With work colleagues, I’d check sometimes with a text, but most usually would have emailed or texted.

Very very very few people leave voicemail anymore.

Yeah I get that voicemail is outdated. I never use it. But if I call someone I usually follow up with a text if I want a call a back. If I don’t need a call back I don’t leave any message. I’ve assumed through the years that that is what others people expect too. Thus my original question, do people who don’t leave any message expect call back?

I ask because I was castigated by a work colleague (not a supervisor or superior) for not calling them back. And honestly, I just always thought that no message = no expectation for a call back

Yes, they do. It may not be urgent (they would probably text in that case and also try again) but they expect you to either call them back or shoot them a text to see what the call was about. No one leaves voicemails.

NP. I didn’t get the memo that someone else’s simply dialing my phone number means I’m expected to call them back. You can call or text or email me, but if you don’t indicate the reason why you’re contacting me or ask me to follow up with you, I’ll take that to mean you decided whatever you were calling me about was unnecessary. If it is important, you’ll reach out again. If it’s not important, don’t bother me.

+1,000,000.

FFS. Leaving a voice message is not “rude,” it is a minimal effort that I certainly expect anyone to do if they expect me to undertake the time/effort of calling them back! This thread is astonishing to me.

Leaving a voice mail isn’t rude. But it is pointless. No one listens anymore.

Because so many people are so bad at leaving messages. I freaking hated getting messages that just said, “Please give me call,” with no indication of the reason for the phone call. Even worse is “I have a question for you,” or “I need to ask you a favor.” Just ask your effing question or tell me what the favor is. Conversely, if you’re my mom, don’t spend 5 minutes making small talk like I’m on the other end of the call when you’re leaving voicemail. Just state the purpose of your call succinctly. If you’re skilled at leaving effective voicemails, feel free to do so.

I guess mom cheated out on speech and social skills therapy when you were younger. Those 5 minutes making small talk in fact is the purpose of the call.

No, the purpose of her call was to chat with me, not record a monologue. I’ll be calling her back and then she can tell me about the weather or her house repairs or what she planted in the garden.

[Anonymous]

Yes, they expect a call back. Leaving a message is old fashioned. It's then on you to go in and listen to a message that says..guess what?..hey call me back. That's why most people just text.

[Anonymous]

If they don’t leave a message, then I assume they needed something then and there or else at a moment in that instant for a chat. I don’t call back. If they leave a message, then I will return their call. And with my iPhone. I can read the text of their message, so I’m leaving a voicemail is the same as if they texted me. It takes one second to read.

If you don’t leave me a message, I assume all has passed and I don’t need to call you back. If you want me to call you either leave a voicemail or text me and say so.