topic Re: Telephones With Call Blocking in Electronics

Telephones With Call Blocking

NickNack — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 22:34:21 GMT

I just bought a new Panasonic telephone with the ability to block 250 numbers. I get so many unwanted calls that I was really excited to have this feature. My last phone blocked about 25 numbers, and I filled that up quickly.

I blocked a number last week that just called me again. I checked to make sure it was the same number. I don't know whether that was just a fluke or if there's some way for the caller to make the number seem the same when it's not. That doesn't seem possible.

Should I assume the phone is faulty and return it? I don't even still have the box, and I ordered it from Amazon. I was so disappointed when I realized it didn't actually block that number.

Re: Telephones With Call Blocking

Tinkrbl44 — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 23:00:36 GMT

I recall reading something about this a while back .... that some call blocking can only be done from U.S. numbers. Another problem is that some calls come to you via the internet, not regular phone lineage and cannot be blocked. Maybe the instructions have some information on the blocking exceptions?

Re: Telephones With Call Blocking

NickNack — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 23:02:26 GMT

Thanks @Tinkrbl44. I'll look it up in the instruction book and see if I can find anything on this.

Re: Telephones With Call Blocking

spent2much — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 23:25:27 GMT

Regarding those irritating calls, has anyone else experienced this? The phone rings and our caller ED shows my husband's name and our home phone number. I wonder how they do that?

Re: Telephones With Call Blocking

fthunt — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 23:38:54 GMT

Yes, twice. It shook my boots to see my name and my phone number on call ID. Like I was calling myself. I, like the OP, also bought a new blocking number phone system and before I got it set up, learned these calls can use any ID number they want. New Phone is still in the box - my old phone worked just fine, so I gave up on that idea.

Re: Telephones With Call Blocking

spent2much — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 23:59:08 GMT

@fthunt Frustrating, huh? Thanks for responding.

Re: Telephones With Call Blocking

Perkup — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 00:03:24 GMT

Not sure about this, but I think those robo calls come from hundreds of different numbers. I've noticed this for months - no matter how many numbers I write down, more come the next day.

I'm thinking that it is pointless to try to block all the robo call numbers.

Re: Telephones With Call Blocking

Marp — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 00:17:51 GMT

@NickNack, did you verify that the number was actually registered to be blocked? Blocking is a multi-step process and if you did not complete it correctly the number will not register to the list.

Re: Telephones With Call Blocking

NickNack — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 00:23:59 GMT

@Marp wrote:
@NickNack, did you verify that the number was actually registered to be blocked? Blocking is a multi-step process and if you did not complete it correctly the number will not register to the list.

@Marp Yes, I did check, and I blocked it correctly. I also double checked that the numbers were exactly the same. I think Tinkrbl44 must be right, and it's a number that's coming from the internet. It's very strange that it didn't block it. My old phone blocked numbers the same way. I never noticed that a number hadn't been blocked before though.

Re: Telephones With Call Blocking

Marp — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 00:42:38 GMT

@NickNack, If the number is properly registered perhaps you can block the number of a friend or family member or your cell phone if you have one and then have a call come in and see if it is blocked--just remember to unblock the number when done (unless... lol). I don't recall if any of the numbers I've blocked were VOIP so I can't address that but I would think the phone should also block those calls.

If the number is blocked then you know the phone is working right and the problem is caused by manipulation by the junk caller.

Out of curosity if you do test the phone this way would you be kind enough to post what the calling number hears or if it is just cut off.

Re: Telephones With Call Blocking

NickNack — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 00:39:21 GMT

That's a great idea @Marp! I'll block my cell phone and see what happens. I'll report back. It will probably be tomorrow before I do it, though. My cell phone is charging right now.

Re: Telephones With Call Blocking

glb613 — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 09:50:25 GMT

Blocking robo calls is about as worthless as blocking spam. They know multiple ways to get through. If you have caller ID, don't answer calls from numbers you don't know.

Re: Telephones With Call Blocking

Zita — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 12:14:04 GMT

@spent2much wrote:
Regarding those irritating calls, has anyone else experienced this? The phone rings and our caller ED shows my husband's name and our home phone number. I wonder how they do that?

Yes, happened to me, but with my husband's name -- but he died five years ago. Gave me a start! A message from the grave? was my first thought.

Re: Telephones With Call Blocking

NickNack — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 13:28:45 GMT

@glb613 wrote:
Blocking robo calls is about as worthless as blocking spam. They know multiple ways to get through. If you have caller ID, don't answer calls from numbers you don't know.

I never do answer them. I still don't like it when they call daily.

Re: Telephones With Call Blocking

chickenbutt — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 14:57:21 GMT

Nick - did it just ring once, or did it keep ringing? I ask because, unfortunately, even when a number is blocked it will ring one time if it calls again.

If it just kept ringing and you can see that symbol on the top of the screen that it's a blocked number, I think I would return it because it's not doing what it's supposed to do.

I'll tell ya - all these calls are crazy-making. I have had all my phones turned off for months now. It's a real pain because I miss calls. Fortunately, I'm on the phone VERY seldom, so I don't miss a lot of calls - but still!

It is just so maddening that they can do this, especially the auto-dial thing. That negates that you pay more money for a private and unlisted number. It's just plain wrong.

I've been trying to convince my husband to just get rid of the landline and, at that point, I'd go ahead and spend some of that money to get a smart phone. At this point I am not at all tied to my cellphone and never have been. I forget to turn it on half the time. But I'd rather just get a better phone and use that. But he says that our alarm system still needs the landline. BTW, every now and then even my cell phone gets these calls. It is positively infuriating!

Re: Telephones With Call Blocking

Tinkrbl44 — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 15:02:53 GMT

@Zita wrote:
@spent2much wrote:
Regarding those irritating calls, has anyone else experienced this? The phone rings and our caller ED shows my husband's name and our home phone number. I wonder how they do that?

Yes, happened to me, but with my husband's name -- but he died five years ago. Gave me a start! A message from the grave? was my first thought.

@Zita

Yikes! What a shocker!

Re: Telephones With Call Blocking

NickNack — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 15:40:37 GMT

@chickenbutt @Marp

Chickenbutt, it kept ringing, so I know it wasn't blocked. There must be some way they got around that. The call that I tried to block said "Police Assistance." Very strange.

Marp, I just called my # with my cell phone and blocked it. When I tried my number again with my cell phone it rang once and that was all. I didn't get a recording or anything saying it was blocked, just a message on my landline that said "call blocked."

I guess it's working, just for some reason the other phone # was able to keep from being blocked. If this happens again I'll return the phone.

Re: Telephones With Call Blocking

chickenbutt — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 15:49:09 GMT

Oh, that's some serious b.s. that they can put some name on it that will preclude it from being blockable. That ires me to no end.

For several days last week I was getting calls (several times a day) from something that just said 'out of area'. Now, you know how that used to work - it would say that AND there was a phone number. This one just said 'out of area' with no phone number so there was no way I could block it.

You don't even want to know what I'm REALLY thinking about this stuff. I can't even describe how angry it makes me, using nice words.

Re: Telephones With Call Blocking

karol59 — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 15:52:23 GMT

WE GET THE SAME WITH OUR NUMBER TOO AND SO MANY MORE, IT ALWAYS STARTS WITH "THIS IS BRIDGET", I HAVE TOLD THEM SO MANY TIMES TO STOP CALLING BUT THEY JUST HANG UP, SO SOMETIMES I JUST WAIT TILL I CAN HIT WHATEVER BUTTON TO GET SOMEONE AND SAY HOLD ON AND LEAVE THE PHONE, I THOUGHT ABOUT GETTING A BLOW HORN OR WHATEVER ITS CALLED. SCHOOLS USE IT FOR OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES, IT SOUNDS AWFUL AND ANNOYING.

Re: Telephones With Call Blocking

Marp — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 16:35:39 GMT

@NickNack, if it blocked your number as it should have I doubt there is anything wrong with the phone. The other number getting through has something to do with them. I'm not positive but I think there are some numbers that cannot be blocked. I have a very vague recollection of reading something like that but I can't make a context connection.

I don't know if it holds true to all Panasonic phones with 250 number blocking but the model I have, KX-TRG350 series, has a setting to not even allow that one ring.

Was the "Police Assistance" call from your area code?