How to Block Unwanted Telephone Numbers or Telemarketers
The Federal Trade Commission has established national initiatives that help consumers stop unwanted calls, but these initiatives only cover telemarketers. You may want to block other parties as well. Electronic devices make it easier to block unwanted telephone numbers from other sources as well.
Instructions
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Add your phone number to the National Do Not Call Registry. This is a system set up by the Federal Trade Commission to notify telemarketers that you do not want to receive calls. Visit the FTC's website to add your number to the registry.
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Purchase a call blocker device such as the TeleZapper, TeleBouncer, or Zenith EZ Hang Up. This device allows you to press a button whenever you receive an unwanted call that automatically blocks the caller. Connect the device to your phone.
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Wait for an unwanted call to come through. If it's an unwanted call, press the "Blocker" key on the call-blocker device, which will play a message to the caller that says "Caller unavailable" or similar, then hang up. It also saves the person's phone number so that the next time the person calls, the blocking action will initiate automatically---you won't even hear the phone ring. Repeat this action for every unwanted call you receive.
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Tips & Warnings
These call-blocking devices only work for landlines. If you're having a problem with unwanted calls on a cell phone, you'll have to call your cell phone provider and either change the number or ask about blocking features. Some cell phone services now have a "call blocking" feature that allows you to add unwanted phone numbers to a block list.
If you're having a problem with unwanted calls from private or unknown numbers, call your phone company and ask for private call blocking. This will play a message to the caller that says you do not accept calls from private numbers.
Some call blocker devices won't block every type of call. For instance, the TeleZapper only blocks "predictive-dial" calls from telemarketers, which are calls placed automatically by computers. Read the product's manual, box, or reviews online for each call blocker device before purchasing to find out exactly which types of calls are blocked.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit phone image by Eisenhans from Fotolia.com
