topic Re: Spam call blocker apps in Among Friends

Spam call blocker apps

smoochy — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 17:16:34 GMT

do you use one on your phone? I have been so pleased with mine. Blocking numerous nuisance calls every day. Until it apparently blocked a call from my derm office wanting to discuss treatment options for the new cancer on my leg. I had been wondering why I hadn't heard anything. They said they called and got no answer and no option for voice mail.

They were using an office number, a back line, that wouĺd not have been known or available to me. Thus I couldn't have put it on my contacts list.

Needless to say I've uninstalled the app.

When ppl say they never answer calls from unknown numbers, are you possibly missing necessary calls because they're using a phone number unfamiliar to you?

Re: Spam call blocker apps

grandma2pkmh — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 17:50:41 GMT

@smoochy If you have an iPhone you can set it to send calls to voicemail if they are not in your Contacts list. It never rings your phone and shows as a call and shows the VoiceMail.

Re: Spam call blocker apps

willowbark — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 18:13:23 GMT

@smoochy I don't use a spam blocker for the reason you mentioned but if there is a number not in my contact list I just let it go into voicemail.....some leave a msg.

Those who don't can be doctors and police officers who don't like to leave a footprint even when it is harmless to do so...

So, yes I have missed important calls that eventually I learned about.

But, I will never answer a call not in my contact list and that's never going to change.

I have told everyone leave a vm, leave a text or leave an email. Nothing more I can do or say.

And.....I just don't care...and there have been times when I should have. But, when you inform people and they don't listen...oh well.

Re: Spam call blocker apps

Mz iMac — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 18:26:43 GMT

@willowbark I have told all family members & businesses I deal with, if you DO NOT leave a message on my answering machine as far as I'm concerned you NEVER called.

I have a landline whose base is an answering machine.

My cell is ONLY used for ordering food when I am out & about. Also, when I am out of town (ordering food). Voice mail was never setup/activated. Cell never leaves my car. I even charge it in the car. Who knew you can do that?

In all the years I've had a cell, I never had to make an emergency call .........~~.knock on cyber wood~~

Re: Spam call blocker apps

Laura14 — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 18:39:32 GMT

I do not use one. If an unknown number calls me and I catch it, I answer and immediately hang up to get my number off the spam list. I find it controls it well.

My medical stuff is usually handled through My Chart so they don't call me anymore. I heard a few years ago, doctors' offices purposely use unknown numbers because they really don't want to talk to you. They only want to leave a message and move on.

Re: Spam call blocker apps

CANDLEQUEEN — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 18:52:31 GMT

I don't have a Spam Blocker on my phone, but we don't answer calls from numbers we don't recognize, and I figure if its important they can leave a voice mail.

We still have a landline. Most of the time if they don't leave a voice mail, I figure it was a spam call.

Re: Spam call blocker apps

Bella8888 — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 21:05:40 GMT

@smoochy

//do you use one on your phone? I have been so pleased with mine. Blocking numerous nuisance calls every day. Until it apparently blocked a call from my derm office wanting to discuss treatment options for the new cancer on my leg. I had been wondering why I hadn't heard anything. They said they called and got no answer and no option for voice mail.

They were using an office number, a back line, that wouĺd not have been known or available to me. Thus I couldn't have put it on my contacts list.

Needless to say I've uninstalled the app.

When ppl say they never answer calls from unknown numbers, are you possibly missing necessary calls because they're using a phone number unfamiliar to you?//

I had one, and like you it began to block my medical team numbers, especially during the pandemic when even medical staff were calling from 'unknown numbers'. So I had to uninstall. When I bought a newer iphone I was able to block through settings. I receive very few spam calls but I do still get the ocassional text spamming.

I got one just a few minutes ago: "Hi, driving by your house today and saw a bird fly out from underneath your solar panels. For a fee I can climb up there and get rid of the nest for you. etc. etc." I kid you not! Give me a break!

It is scary to think how they connect my cell phone number to my home address. My cell is in a completely different area code than where I live. How do they do that? Nefarious people are that smart. So, why don't they just get a legal job with that intelligence.

Re: Spam call blocker apps

I am still oxox — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 21:10:27 GMT

I have used Norobo call for many years

Re: Spam call blocker apps

mrshckynut — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 21:58:35 GMT

@smoochy wrote:
do you use one on your phone? I have been so pleased with mine. Blocking numerous nuisance calls every day. Until it apparently blocked a call from my derm office wanting to discuss treatment options for the new cancer on my leg. I had been wondering why I hadn't heard anything. They said they called and got no answer and no option for voice mail.
They were using an office number, a back line, that wouĺd not have been known or available to me. Thus I couldn't have put it on my contacts list.
Needless to say I've uninstalled the app.
When ppl say they never answer calls from unknown numbers, are you possibly missing necessary calls because they're using a phone number unfamiliar to you?

@smoochy we have auto call blocking on our AT&T land line phones. Only those authorized are allowed to have their call go through. As for Doctors etc., all have my cell phone listed with them as the secondary call number. I have never missed and important call

mrshckynut

Re: Spam call blocker apps

smoochy — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 01:23:09 GMT

@monicakm wrote:
@smoochy

I'm so sorry to read that you have a new cancer on your leg.

When I get a call that is labeled "Potential Spam", I note the number because my phone started labeling our hospital and Dr offices as spam but it's a legit number. Other numbers I'll either choose the option that it was spam and block it or answer it, have some fun with them, and then hang up and block the number. We rarely get spam calls tho. Our spam blocker comes from Verizon, not an app I've downloaded.

thanks. Its a superficial basal cell type. I was given the choice of three weeks using a cream on it twice daily, or having it cauterized-one appt. I picked option B.

I use t mobile which has a built in blocker on my Samsung Galaxy. But it doesn't seem too effective.

Re: Spam call blocker apps

CalminHeart — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 12:54:06 GMT

My iPhone posts a notice on the screen when I get a spam call. It's easy to block a number from the incoming call list too.

Re: Spam call blocker apps

SouthernBee — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 13:55:27 GMT

@smoochy : Some of my calls from my medical group are displayed on caller ID as user # 12245, just example.Totally unrelated to their office number.
This is totally frustrating when needing special return calls.

Re: Spam call blocker apps

Still Raining — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 14:28:24 GMT

It can take a bit of effort, but on my iPhone I put known numbers in contacts and send everyone else to voicemail. If they don't bother to leave a message then they are dead to me.

I also have the ability to turn it off as needed. Like if a repair person is coming and I know a cellphone will be involved.

Medical offices and pharmacies will always leave a cryptic message and often include their main phone number.

Re: Spam call blocker apps

smoochy — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 17:24:55 GMT

@Still Raining wrote:
It can take a bit of effort, but on my iPhone I put known numbers in contacts and send everyone else to voicemail. If they don't bother to leave a message then they are dead to me.

I also have the ability to turn it off as needed. Like if a repair person is coming and I know a cellphone will be involved.

Medical offices and pharmacies will always leave a cryptic message and often include their main phone number.

lol 😅