topic Re: How do I block a phone number? in Community Chat

How do I block a phone number?

Big Sister — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 08:06:17 GMT

I want to block the number used to call me saying she was with the IRS.

I know it's a scam. I have never blocked a number before. TIA

Re: How do I block a phone number?

CelticCrafter — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 09:20:52 GMT

You need to go to your phone carriers website and see if it's an option.

If it is available, type the number in and hit save.

Re: How do I block a phone number?

shaggygirl — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 09:21:31 GMT

Go to your telephone company's website and see if you can find instructions there on turning on your call blocking service or it might already be on and you just don't know it. When our phone company was bought out by a different one (used to be AT&T now it's Frontier) I had to turn it back on. I used to have a little handbook from the original company that explained lots of things including how to block numbers, (check to seeif you have one) but somehow it got misplaced or tossed out so I found instructions on the new company's website, printed it off and keep it handy because I probably block a number at least once a week from telemarketers that don't give up and start calling over and over again. You might have a limit on the amount of numbers you can block, in my case it's 20, but once you've reached that maximum you can eliminate a few of them, or all of them, and start over. I found the instructions for both blocking and eliminating blocked numbers on their site under Help Center. I start by getting a dial tone then pressing *60 then following the voice prompts. If you can't find it on their website I'm guessing if you call them they can give you instructions.

Re: How do I block a phone number?

Toppers — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 09:40:28 GMT

@Big Sister wrote:
I want to block the number used to call me saying she was with the IRS.
I know it's a scam. I have never blocked a number before. TIA

There are different ways to do this.

You can call your phone provider like the previous poster said, and see if they offer a phone blocking service.

You can also see if your phone service qualifies for a free phone blocking service, like "nomorobo." Nomorobo works with the newer Voice Over Internet Protocol phone services. It won't work with older landline phone services, or with cell. phones.

You can also buy a phone that actually blocks phone numbers through the phone itself. There are different phone models that do this.

Then, there are phone blocking devices that block phone numbers, too.

Re: How do I block a phone number?

jackthebear — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 10:38:47 GMT

I have a Panasonic phone that lets me block phone numbers, it is worth every penny I paid for it.

You may want to consider getting one.

The other option is paying your phone company monthly to do so

I would start by looking at the website to see if you can do that and the monthly fee.

Re: How do I block a phone number?

shaggygirl — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 10:51:42 GMT

CelticCrafter just reminded of something I wanted to add. When my phone company was still AT&T I was able to do as she said and on the website itself, using a username and password to access my account, go to the call blocking feature, type in the number I wanted to add to the list and save it and also eliminate any to make room for more once I'd reached my limit. When it became Frontier I didn't bother to see if I could do the same, I just do it now using the phone itself from the instructions I printed off.

Re: How do I block a phone number?

cotton4me — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 10:58:04 GMT

We get several scam calls a day. Our phone service provider doesn’t use Nomorobo so we decided to get a call blocking device. It was highly rated in Consumer Reports (Digitone). It can block up to 140 numbers (although it needs more). These scam artists change numbers frequently. I’ve already blocked 50 numbers. You can also block entire area codes which I’ve done with the 800 numbers. Hopefully technology can catch up to these thieves. Unfortunately, the Do Not Call registry only works with honest businesses.

Re: How do I block a phone number?

CelticCrafter — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 11:21:00 GMT

@jackthebear wrote:
OP

I have a Panasonic phone that lets me block phone numbers, it is worth every penny I paid for it.
You may want to consider getting one.
The other option is paying your phone company monthly to do so
I would start by looking at the website to see if you can do that and the monthly fee.

We don't pay a monthly fee, it's included in the calling features.

If I told them I didn't want it, there would be no savings on the bill.

Re: How do I block a phone number?

KingstonsMom — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 11:34:35 GMT

@cotton4me wrote:
We get several scam calls a day. Our phone service provider doesn’t use Nomorobo so we decided to get a call blocking device. It was highly rated in Consumer Reports (Digitone). It can block up to 140 numbers (although it needs more). These scam artists change numbers frequently. I’ve already blocked 50 numbers. You can also block entire area codes which I’ve done with the 800 numbers. Hopefully technology can catch up to these thieves. Unfortunately, the Do Not Call registry only works with honest businesses.

@cotton4me

We also bought the Digitone Call Blocker too and it works fantastic!

It's taking me awhile to get used to how quiet it is, without the charity, political, sales, surveys and scam calls!

One of the best purchases I've ever made!

Re: How do I block a phone number?

Group 5 minus 1 — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 12:43:07 GMT

Our phones can block numbers. The instructions are in the use and care booklet. We can block up to 30 calls and we have blocked that many.

Re: How do I block a phone number?

SharkE — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 13:26:01 GMT

@Big Sister wrote:
I want to block the number used to call me saying she was with the IRS.
I know it's a scam. I have never blocked a number before. TIA

I bought from HSN a small gadget that you hook up to your phone line and back of phone. EASY. Called 'call blocker'. I hooked it up with everything in the box included. easy , peasy. All U do is touch the red button that says 'block' that person is now blocked. If your on a cordless phone and get a nuisance call you hit '02' or #2 forget which and you don't have to get up and go to the unit at all you can do it from your cordless. Worth the money !

You must have caller ID on your line.

Re: How do I block a phone number?

SharkE — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 19:08:03 GMT

http://www.hsn.com/products/call-blocker-w3-caller-display-and-1200-number-capacity/7781416

Re: How do I block a phone number?

Big Sister — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 20:27:28 GMT

Thank you to everyone who answered my request for info on blocking phone numbers. I am looking into the Digitone or the CPR devices, plus will contact my AT&T carrier (I have a landline) to see what is available to me. I will also look into buying the Panasonic phone that was mentioned.

Thank you again. These forums are so helpful to everyone who needs information on anything.

Re: How do I block a phone number?

SharkE — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 21:44:53 GMT

anything from AT&T will incur a monthly charge. call blocker is a one time pay out. I used to have AT&T couldn't get away from them fast enough when we moved. Poor service and greedy was my own experience.

Good luck !

Re: How do I block a phone number?

HSB1204 — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 22:07:49 GMT

@jackthebear wrote:
OP

I have a Panasonic phone that lets me block phone numbers, it is worth every penny I paid for it.
You may want to consider getting one.
The other option is paying your phone company monthly to do so
I would start by looking at the website to see if you can do that and the monthly fee.

I also have a Panasonic phone and I think it lets you block up to 30 phone numbers. It works great.

Re: How do I block a phone number?

hckynutjohn — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 05:19:08 GMT

@Big Sister wrote:
I want to block the number used to call me saying she was with the IRS.
I know it's a scam. I have never blocked a number before. TIA

You might want to look into buying a Call Blocker. Some of them will block up to 2,000 phone numbers. Most I've seen are very simple to use and you can block any number, even while you are talking or trying to get rid of them, and they will never know where you went.

hckynut(john)

Re: How do I block a phone number?

shoekitty — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 05:38:41 GMT

I want to ask a question about the call blockers. I just bought one on Amazon. I am not sure about one thing, can you block the calls from just looking at the number, or do you have to answer the call?

Re: How do I block a phone number?

KingstonsMom — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 09:12:40 GMT

@shoekitty wrote:
I want to ask a question about the call blockers. I just bought one on Amazon. I am not sure about one thing, can you block the calls from just looking at the number, or do you have to answer the call?

@shoekitty

I bought the Digitone Call Blocker Plus from Amazon and with it, if you don't recognize the # on your caller ID, just press the 'Block' button on the device twice (without answering the phone) and it will show 'Call Blocked' on the device's screen.

The next time that # tries to call, your phone will only ring once before the call blocker blocks them.

You can also block #'s when you do answer a call that you don't want to call back again, or a # left on your answering machine, the same way.

I'm only speaking of this particular device, as I have no experience with any other devices like this.

This one is pure heaven at my house, it's so quiet & peaceful now!

No more 'Vote for me' calls or trying to sell me something I don't need or want calls or Spam calls!

Re: How do I block a phone number?

cotton4me — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 15:53:23 GMT

@shoekitty wrote:
I want to ask a question about the call blockers. I just bought one on Amazon. I am not sure about one thing, can you block the calls from just looking at the number, or do you have to answer the call?

@shoekitty

They're all different. One of the reasons I chose Digitone was because I didn't need to pick up the call in order to block it. You can block it while the phone is ringing or later by pressing the block button. If I'm near the call blocker device and a bad call comes through I block it while it's ringing. The ringing stops and I get a message that it's been blocked. If I'm not near the device or unsure of the number I let it go to my answering machine. You can scroll through the numbers that have called and block the ones you want by pressing the block button.

Another thing I like about Digitone is that it will let you block entire area codes, which I've done. We were getting repeated calls from different numbers, but the same area code in Texas so I blocked the entire area code. Yesterday a call came through from that area code and it was blocked. So nice, some peace. Once numbers are blocked on Digitone the phone doesn't rings, unless you have extensions that are different from the main phone. For instance we have an AT & T phone with three additional handsets. It only rings on our older phones that aren't part of that set so I turned the ringer off on those. It was important to me to not hear any rings from bad numbers. I only know they call by checking the call blocker device.

ETA - I didn't see that @KingstonsMom already answered.

Re: How do I block a phone number?

shoekitty — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 20:41:47 GMT

@cotton4me @KingstonsMom

I bought the CPR call blocker on Amazon. Where did you get yours? I looked at the Digitone and was scared off by the manufacturers warning. It said the directions of installation can be complicated for many. It went on and on about instalation. I don't want anything complicated. How was your installation?