The dial back will only work if the caller has his number visible.
All phones send their numbers at all times. The private number facility just signals the network software not to display the number to the recieving phone. If you really need to trace a call and have the exact time and date it is always possible. If its really important most private detectives have friends in the phone companys who for a fee will help out.
You are dead right there clubman but we had a crank calls case at work a couple of years and a private dick got us the info. The guards were informed and the calls stopped. They did'nt seem too bothered how we got the info.
Agree with ClubMan - sounds very dodgy to me unless an emergency like a minor who has gone AWOL and surely in that instance the gardai would be involved!
I have had nuisance calls tonight on an 02 phone that I use for business. I contacted 02 about this to see if they could trace the call. Before I rang I checked up their website to see if this could be done. This is whats on the website
'Q. Can O2 identify numbers that are calling from a withheld number?
A. Yes, in majority of cases. As long as you supply accurate times and dates of the received calls, O2 can attempt to trace the calling number.
NB. Any trace results can only be passed on to the Gardai to assist in an investigation and will not be supplied directly to customers.'
I rang 02 and spoke to a customer service rep who was quite adamant that they cannot do this and I gave her all the times etc. She informed me that I should contact the gardai.
Now I did not want the number given out to me personally - I just wanted to query if it could be done and I assumed from the above extract from their website that they could do this and pass on the information to the authorities. But it seems they cannot or wont.
This is becoming a bit of a nuisance indeed. As the phone is used for a business the last thing I need is these idiots ringing up with these annoying phone calls when genuine callers are trying to get through. Maybe I will have to go the private detective route. I just want to get to the bottom of this. I know from the caller that they are only acting the maggot but maybe if the frighteners were put on them they may cease this stupid behaviour.
This issue raises a question of whether people should be entitled to 'hide' their number in the first place. Personally speaking, I think that the right should be with the person who is called to know at all times who is calling them and people making the call should be obliged to show their identity. I don't think there are many good reasons for people to hide the caller ID and it seems it is mostly misused - as in the case of the OP receiving crank calls.