Returning a missed call feels polite, and most of the time it's harmless. But a few seconds spent checking the number first can save money, hassle and occasionally a lot more. Here's why it's worth making a habit of it.
1. Some numbers are expensive to call
09 premium-rate numbers can cost several pounds a minute, and 070 personal numbers and some 087 numbers aren't cheap either. A lookup tells you the type of number and what calling it is likely to cost before you dial.
2. One-ring scams rely on you calling back
A number that rings once and hangs up, especially from abroad, is often hoping you'll return the call to a costly line. Checking first takes the bait away.
3. Calling back confirms your number is live
Some operations dial huge ranges of numbers to find active ones. Ringing back tells them yours works, which can mean more calls from more places.
4. Other people may already know who it is
If a number has been calling lots of people, there's a good chance someone has already reported what it wanted. A fake bank, a delivery firm, a debt collector, a survey: reading the reports takes seconds.
5. You can prepare for the call
If a lookup shows the number belongs to a genuine organisation, you can call back knowing who to expect, with any reference numbers or paperwork to hand.
6. It helps you spot spoofing
If a caller said they were from your bank but the number turns out to be an ordinary mobile, or has been reported by others as a scam, you know something isn't right.
7. You can warn the next person
Once you know what the call was, rating the number takes a tap. That rating might be exactly what stops someone else's parent or grandparent from being caught out.
How to check a number in seconds
- Copy the number from your call log.
- Paste it into the search box on Who Called Me Check.
- Read the line type, area, cost and caller reports.
- Decide whether to call back, ignore or block it.
It's free, there's no sign-up, and it works for UK and international numbers.
Not sure about a call you had?
Look the number up to see what kind of line it is, where it's from and what other people said about it.