Why Am I Unknown Caller with Cricket Cell Phone?

August 1, 2007 6:43 PM

Why does my cell phone number show up as "unknown caller" or "unavailable" to EVERYONE I call?

About two weeks ago I got cell phone service from Cricket. My phone is a Motorola w315. I show up as "unknown" caller with everybody I call. Land lines and cell phones. All different cell phone services. These people have me in their contacts. It's getting frustrating, I'm very happy with the service other than this. I've been all through the phone settings and the instruction book. The Cricket customer service people mumble something about me "not being in the other companies databases yet." I don't believe that.

Does anyone else have experience with this? Is there anything I can do? I don't know if it is a phone issue or a carrier issue. I'd like to eventually port my land line over, do you think that will make a difference? Thanks.

posted by marxchivist to Technology (10 answers total)

It's a carrier issue (the switches handle callerID, it's got nothing to do with your phone in any way) and if they say it's a known limitation to their service there is bupkis you can do. Except maybe complain regularly with the faint hope it becomes a priority.
posted by Mitheral at 6:47 PM on August 1, 2007

It should be an option within you settings menu. Browse thru the menu choices. It will pop-up.
posted by humannaire at 6:48 PM on August 1, 2007

With all mobile phones I've ever used (but this is in the UK), there is a setting in the phone which determines whether or not your phone identifies itself with a number to other phones.

This setting is generally called 'send caller ID' on Nokia phones.

Phones seem to be much more restricted in the US but I'd say definitely check your phone for this setting as if it is off it would cause exactly this behaviour.
posted by dance at 6:49 PM on August 1, 2007

Does just your name not show up but your number does? I know Verizon Wireless cell numbers show up as the town where the cell's exchange is from (My number shows up as LONG BRANCH, NJ).
posted by daninnj at 6:49 PM on August 1, 2007

Try this manual from Motorola for your phone. The setting is described within.
posted by dance at 6:51 PM on August 1, 2007

Response by poster: Does just your name not show up but your number does?

Neither my name or my number show up.

Try this manual from Motorola for your phone. The setting is described within.

I'm not seeing it in there. It's the same manual I got with the phone. I did turn on the ALI (Automatic Location Information) feature. I don't think that will do it. Too late to call anyone here to check.

I have been through all the settings in my phone menu and can't find a thing.
posted by marxchivist at 7:00 PM on August 1, 2007

It is not a phone setting if you are in the US it's a setting dictated on your carrier's switch. I am not familiar with Cricket's practices but I'm guessing you can call them and have caller ID blocking removed. I do know the larger carriers work this way.

Caller ID for cell phones in the US will always display either city/state (Denver, CO), carrier (Cricket Communications), or unknown/unavailable.
posted by Octoparrot at 7:05 PM on August 1, 2007

I'd say take it as a blessing. I hate getting caller-ID'd. Think of it as insurance in case you want to stalk somebody in the future.
posted by tehloki at 9:28 PM on August 1, 2007

My brother often shows up as Restricted on my phone, and he says that's because he's using the automatic callback feature when listening to the voice mail I left him. Are you dialing callers or are you having the voice mail system on your phone call your callers back?
posted by emelenjr at 7:53 AM on August 2, 2007

Response by poster: Are you dialing callers or are you having the voice mail system on your phone call your callers back?

Both, mostly I'm dialing the numbers.
posted by marxchivist at 9:51 AM on August 2, 2007