Phone anxiety.

I much prefer text to speaking on the phone, it seems quite common now especially with younger people who rarely answer or make a phone call.

It used to be worse in that you didn’t have caller display so didn’t know who is was until you answer.

Is there an email address or chat facility that your son could use for the tax code?

As an ex switchboard operator I’m happier on the phone than texting.

I don’t mind incoming calls but I hate making calls and will do anything to avoid it.

I don’t even like calling family!

Oopsadaisy1

As an ex switchboard operator I’m happier on the phone than texting.

Me too! I was a GPO Operator in South Kensington Exchange in the days when you still had to go through the operator for many calls. I was speaking to people all day, although it was only to connect their calls.

I'm surprised anyone is shy about using the phone because we were all raised with land lines. I can understand youngsters being a bit uncomfortable because of all the texting, but I think anyone who feels that way should make a point of phoning someone for a chat every day. They always say to face your fears, and that is true for any phobia.

I like phone calls with friends and family and always feel uplifted after a good old chat.I use text for making quick plans or reminders.I do get well fed up with spam calls.

I love phone calls but no-one makes them anymore.
Agree texts good for quick plans and. keeping in touch while travelling .
Not wanting to phone HMRC may be a little different to not wanting to phone anyone else. Lots of people would rather avoid the interest of HMRC if they can !

Sorry to report people are having huge difficulties contacting HMRC at all, by phone or letter.
I am still awaiting a reply to a letter I sent 5 months ago.
Good luck to you and your son.

Where I grew up, we didn’t have land lines. We had to go to the local post office, on the rare occasion we had to make a call

Chestnut

Oopsadaisy1

As an ex switchboard operator I’m happier on the phone than texting.

Me too! I was a GPO Operator in South Kensington Exchange in the days when you still had to go through the operator for many calls. I was speaking to people all day, although it was only to connect their calls.

I'm surprised anyone is shy about using the phone because we were all raised with land lines. I can understand youngsters being a bit uncomfortable because of all the texting, but I think anyone who feels that way should make a point of phoning someone for a chat every day. They always say to face your fears, and that is true for any phobia.

I grew up without a ‘phone and in late teens, we had a party line, so this assumption is wrong.
I’m another who doesn’t enjoy the telephone but am a chatterbox face to face. Some of us need that contact. Each week I have an extremely stilted duty conversation with my widowed SIL…

I disagree that we should ‘phone someone for a chat every day if we don’t enjoy it. I keep it for necessary appointments etc and that’s enough. Writing letters is another thing however, I do enjoy that.
I’d hardly call it a phobia.

If the phone rings my first thought is ‘oh no, what has happened’. That’s why nuisance phone calls make me so angry. I’m so glad that I can communicate with my family via messenger these days.

Just noticed I have had 3 missed calls today while I was in the garden. They are from a friend who has early dementia and I'm glad I missed her. She has been ringing friends to ask things like bus times or phone numbers which she could easily look up herself.
One of her friends told her she was too busy to look things up but I don't think she realised the problem.

I enjoy a natter on the phone, but am happy to use text or whatever to communicate with people who prefer it.

I find that most people I know text first to see if someone is free before calling, and I prefer that. I know it used to be the norm to just 'drop in' on someone's day with a phone call, and they would stop what they were doing to answer, but these days that's considered quite rude. I speak to one friend once a week on the same day, and have done for many years since she moved away when we were young. We don't text first, but will say if we're busy and call back later. Everyone else gets fair warning

I much prefer to speak to a human being on the phone if I'm arranging anything really important or I use email. I only text to share a quick few words with friends or family, not for anything to do with tax (heaven forbid) or the like.

I think it's a bit of a shame that young people never speak on the phone. You pick up certain nuances when you hear someone's voice.

I like text or email for arrangements. That way I have a record of what was agreed.

The phone is better for chatting, I think.

I rarely speak to my sister on the phone, she really doesn't enjoy phoning people.

I must I confess I prefer to email people rather than telephone them, even though once a call starts I am quite comfortable in it and I have no problems answering the phone. It is the initating of calls I have problem with.

I have no idea why.

Having said how much I hate ‘phone calls, I love my long FaceTime calls with my close sister in the south. It’s talking into a blank space I dislike.

I think texts have taken over. I only have one friend who phones me and I phone her, but probably only about twice a week and not for a chat, mainly for a reason.

I had another friend who phoned me a lot even though she left all the talking to me, but she recently passed away.

If I do not recognise the number I do not answer the phone.