A voice mail method screens calls made by a calling subscriber (10) to a called subscriber (20) which is unavailable (or otherwise screening calls). The screening method determines (110) whether the called subscriber (20) has a voice mail screening feature. An internet protocol multi-media system (50) receives the call from the called subscriber (114). The internet protocol multi-media system then transfers call control to a voicemail screening server which plays subscriber (20) the beginning of the voicemail message being left by subscriber (10) and offers to-route the call back to the called subscriber (20). The called subscriber then indicates via a short code whether the called subscriber will accept the call (124).