Block a Call

Call blocking is a feature offered by many telephone service providers and allows users to block specific phone numbers from calling. This is the primary way of blocking phone calls, but it is not the only way. If you receive unwanted phone calls or are harassed by telemarketers, here are some different ways of blocking phone calls.

Steps

Blocking Specific Numbers on a Landline

1. Call your telephone service provider. Ask a customer service representative whether call blocking is an available feature.
   • If call blocking is available, request that it be activated. There may be a monthly fee for using the call blocking feature.
   • Most telephone service providers offer a variety of call blocking services, though blocking specific numbers may not be an option.
2. Dial *60 on your phone. When you pick up a landline phone, wait until you hear the dial tone to dial these characters. This will activate the call blocking feature on your phone.
   • Listen for a recorded voice to tell you whether your call blocking service is turned on or off and how many phone numbers are currently blocked from calling your phone line. Listen for instructions on how to turn the call blocking service on, if it is currently turned off. With most phone providers, you can activate call blocking by pressing 3.
3. Add a phone number to be blocked. This number will remain in this directory until you manually remove it or disable the call blocking feature altogether.
   • Follow the instructions of the automated message for adding phone numbers to the blocked call list for your phone. The specific instructions vary depending on your phone provider, but typically they involve pressing one keypad button to add a number.
   • Enter the area code and phone number of the first number you wish to block from calling you and then pressing the # button. Repeat this step until you have entered all the phone numbers you wish to block.
   • Some phone service providers limit the number of phone numbers you can block from calling you to 6 or 12.
4. Remove a phone number from your block list. If you decide that you want to unblock a number, dial *60 again and follow the automated prompts.
   • The exact instructions for deleting numbers vary depending on your phone service provider, but typically they involve pressing a specific number on your keypad and then entering the phone number that you wish to delete from your blocked call list.
   • Review the numbers listed on your blocked call list by pressing the corresponding number on your telephone keypad as dictated by the automated instructions. Listen as the voice reads the phone numbers on the list.
   • Removing numbers is necessary when the blocking directory is full. To add a new number to the directory, you must first delete an old one.
5. Hang up the phone. When you have finished making changes to your blocked call list, end the automated call.
   • Blocked numbers will now receive messages stating that the phone service provider is unable to complete their calls. Your phone will not ring when individuals attempt calls from these numbers.
   • To disable the call blocking feature, dial *80 when you hear a dial tone.

Blocking Anonymous Calls on a Landline

1. Dial *77 on your phone at the dial tone. This will activate anonymous call blocking on a landline telephone. Note that this service is only available if you have Caller ID.
   • Listen for a confirmation tone or announcement indicating that the feature has been activated.
   • Callers who block the display of their name and numbers will now hear an automated recording that you're not accepting blocked calls. They will be prompted to unblock their Caller ID and call you again.
   • Note that only people who are listed as "Anonymous," "Private Name," or "Unknown" will be blocked from calling you. This feature does not extend to anonymous people who do not block their Caller ID.
2. Press *87 at the dial tone to deactivate. If you wish to allow unknown names and numbers to call you again, dial this code to disable this feature.
   • You will hear confirmation tone or announcement that the feature has been disabled. Anonymous or blocked names and numbers will now be able to contact you.

Blocking Calls on your Cell Phone

1. Block a specific number. Press the menu button on your phone, then go to "Settings."
   • Go to "Phone" or "Phone Settings" and select "Calls" or "Incoming Calls." Press "Blocked Callers," "Blacklist," "Unwanted Calls," or another similarly named option menu. Your contact list or phone book will appear; choose the name you wish to block, or manually enter the phone number you wish to block. Hit "OK" or "Block" to confirm.
   • Calls from this number will no longer appear and will not cause your cell phone to ring. The caller will either hear a busy signal or will be informed that you do not accept calls from his or her number.
2. Download the Call Filter app on your Android. This is a free app that is available from your phone's Play Store and provides the option of blocking both anonymous and specific numbers.
   • Go to your Play Store and search for "Call Filter." Download the app and then open it. Once open, you will have the option of checking a box that reads "Block Unknown Calls." This will prevent private numbers, pay phones, and unknown numbers from contacting you.
   • You can also check a box next to "Control Specified Numbers," which will block numbers you have manually entered. Beneath the box is a gray, clickable icon that says "Call Filter" with a number in parentheses. Click this box to input numbers to be blocked. The number of blocked callers will now show in this gray box. Similarly, you can click "Add the last incoming number" to block the most recent number that has called you.
   • Call blocking apps are not 100% effective and may still allow telemarketers to call you.
   • If you do not have an Android phone, similar apps are available which offer nearly identical features.
3. Block calls with Google Voice. Google Voice is a free phone service that offers a wide range of features.
   • Visit the sign-up website: https://services.google.com/fb/forms/googlevoiceinvite/. You will be prompted to enter your name and e-mail address. Since this service is through invitation only, you will be required to wait until Google Voice has sent you an invite before utilizing account features. Be patient; the site advertises a "short" wait but can take up to a few days to process.
   • Follow the e-mail instructions for signing up for an account.
   • Once you have created an account, log in to your Google Voice account. Find a call or voicemail from the caller whom you want to block and select a check box next to that call or voicemail. Click the "More" link underneath the call/voicemail. Select "Block Caller."
   • This feature works on all phones as it is linked to a Google account and not a specific phone.

National Do Not Call Registry

1. Type www.donotcall.gov into your web browser. Hit enter, then click the icon that says "Register a Phone Number."
   • The National Do Not Call Registry is managed by the Federal Trade Commission and is designed to stop most telemarketer calls.
   • Instead of entering numbers you wish to be blocked, you instead type in your phone number so that telemarketers will be prohibited from contacting you.
   • Don't be discouraged if you still receive calls a few days after registering. Your number must be on the list for 31 days before this registration takes effect.
2. Enter the phone number you want to register. Also include a working e-mail address so that you can confirm your request.
   • You can enter up to 3 numbers to be registered on the Do Not Call list.
   • Double check the phone numbers you have entered. Make sure you have not transposed or omitted any numbers.
   • Be sure that you have access to the e-mail address you've entered. You will receive a confirmation e-mail that you must click in order to finalize the registration.
3. Confirm the registration. Open the e-mail account you entered on the registration form and search for an e-mail from the website.
   • Be sure that you click the confirmation link in the e-mail within 72 hours of registration. The link will expire after 72 hours, after which you will have to resubmit the form in order to register.
   • Remember that registering on this list only stops telemarketer calls, or those who solicit goods and services. You may still receive calls from political organizations, charities, telephone surveyors, and companies from whom you have purchased products. If you wish to block these calls, simply request that you be put on that specific company's do not call list, which they must honor.
   • If you still receive telemarketer calls after the 31 day period, you have the option of filing a complaint on the same website. The icon is located to the far right of "Register a Phone Number."

Related Articles

• Ignore a Phone Call
• Block Unknown Callers
• Stop Unwanted Phone Calls
• Deal With Abusive Phone Calls

Sources and Citations

See also

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• Get Rid of Unwanted Calls on Your Cell Phone
• Stop Unwanted Phone Calls
• Make Up an Excuse to Get Off the Phone
• Stop Collection Calls
• Deal With Abusive Phone Calls
• Finish a Phone Conversation Without Being Rude
• Handle an Irate Customer on the Phone
• Tell if Someone Is Ignoring Your Calls and Decide What to Do About It

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