Nuisance calls, a new UK record?

Our family and friends all now now that I don't answer the landline. If they ring it they leave a message and I ring them back. Thought it was just me!

Because we are ex directory our number does not appear on friends/relations phones with caller id, so we always give them 3 rings and then ring again so they know its us,and anyone we know contacts us the same way

Our phone shows who's calling, so if we don't recognise the number or it is withheld just ignore it. They can always talk to the answer machine if it is important. They rarely do. Occasionally if a number is persistent I will answer it and tell them never to ring my number again, depending on there level of training they either politely say thank you for your time or just ring off.

Because we are ex directory our number does not appear on friends/relations phones with caller id, so we always give them 3 rings and then ring again so they know its us,and anyone we know contacts us the same way

We are ex-directory but I don't withold our phone number when I make a call. 

We eventually bought telephones with a built in security system so get no nuisance calls anymore.

Cannot understand why cold calling isn't 100% illegal with severe penalties.

JVB that is a great idea - I have a friend with Witheld - and pick up that with my "don't mess with me voice"!  Another mystery is my neighbour who is on my mobile friend's list - also comes up witheld although they are not ex directory.  So with those two I tend to answer those calls which I never used to do. 

So right about their level of training as to how I deal - anyone ASSuming there is a Mr H in the household gets very short shrift. 

We never answer the landline. I'll check any messages and I recognize immediately any that are nuisance calls, those are Deleted User before they've had time to play through. It's surprising how few genuine calls we get on the landline these days.

We're ex-directory on the landline, no problems with nuisance calls, very rare if one gets through. I don't add phone numbers to any web sites, on line orders etc unless it is really needed. Only a few friends and family have my mobile number and that has kept things in check.

Because we are ex directory our number does not appear on friends/relations phones with caller id, so we always give them 3 rings and then ring again so they know its us,and anyone we know contacts us the same way

We are ex-directory but I don't withold our phone number when I make a call. 

...Ours has always with held since we have been ex directory

We had a call two days ago when OH answered they asked for me when OH asked the reason the phone just cut off,  The phone rang again today and I answered , it was our car dealership offering a good deal to change our car,while in conversation i asked if they tried a couple of days ago,he said they had been calling all customers and our number had been called,I then went to town on him, as OH could hear his voice as the one who put the phone down,they have lost a customer