One of the distractions in life is getting a call on a Sunday at 8 am or just when you are about to eat dinner. In the United States, in recent years, telemarketers have become increasingly shrewd, this has led to an increasing number of complaints being filed with The Federal Communications Commission (FCC). So how can you stop all this? The method below can be applied to you, readers who are in the United States; some of these methods can also be applied wherever you are.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Stopping Calls from the Source
Step 1. Register your phone number in the Do Not Call Registry
This list, which is only available to citizens of the United States, contains the telephone numbers and owners of those numbers for which they do not want calls from telemarketers. Register your number by calling (888) 382-1222 or online at www.donotcall.gov.
- This list was created by the Federal Trade Commission in 2003 and can reduce the number of unwanted calls from telemarketers by as much as 80 percent.
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Some organizations are not required to comply with this Do Not Call Registry list. For example:
- Calls from organizations you have a business relationship with.
- Call from the organization you have given written permission to call you.
- Phones that are not commercial in nature or contain unwanted advertising elements.
- Calls from non-profit organizations are tax-free.
Step 2. Call your telecom operator and ask to speak to “services and complaints”
This service section can make your phone number unreachable by certain numbers.
Step 3. List your phone number on a company's no-to-call list
If you are frequently interrupted by calls from a company, you can ask the company's telemarketer to remove your name and phone number from their phone list. The Federal Communications Commission/FCC requires your number to be deleted for 5 years.
Step 4. Use a search engine to find out who is calling
If you are in doubt about the phone number to call you, do a search. Entering a specific number in a search engine can give you a clue as to the owner of the number. There are many online reporting services where you can report and share your experience with other users.
Method 2 of 2: Blocking Calls to Your Number
Step 1. Install a phone-blocking app on your mobile
While telemarketers are supposed to show their phone number when calling you, many don't. Blocking unwanted calls is a good way to filter out the numbers you don't want to call you. If you use a mobile phone with an iPhone or Android operating system, there are applications that automatically block calls from hidden numbers.
- Call Control is the most popular app for blocking telemarketers.
- Call Bliss is the most popular app to block calls from numbers you don't know (for iPhone users).
Step 2. Change your phone settings
Android and iPhone have a setting where you can only receive calls from the people you want. The disadvantage of this setting is that if the organization or person you know and wait for the call has a number you don't know, you won't receive calls from them. If you often receive calls from unknown numbers on a daily basis, then this is a good option.
- You can set your Android to Private Mode so you can only receive calls from the numbers that you have set before.
- Use Do Not Disturb on your iPhone. You can reject all calls except from the numbers you have saved in your contacts list..
Step 3. Use phone traps
Phone trap is a paid service that forces callers to show their phone number. TrapCall is the most popular service, which can be used on landlines as well as on iPhone and Android.
Step 4. Register your number with your landline operator's service
Your landline operator provides various types of number blocking and filtering. This kind of service is a monthly paid service. Call and ask what services are available. Services such as Call Screen, Priority Ringing and Call Return are usually available in most states.
- Call Screen can be set to block calls from certain numbers by redirecting the number to a pre-recorded message that says you won't pick up their calls.
- Priority Ringing gives you the option to set a special ringing tone to specific numbers, so you can know who's calling without looking at the phone screen when you want to receive the call.
- Call Return gives you the option to call back the number that called you even if the number is hidden or private.
Step 5. Purchase an incoming call blocker to install on your landline
Incoming call blocker requires the caller to enter a certain code to call you. This will stop callers who don't have the code. While this is a hassle for your friends, family and acquaintances, it is useful if you are frequently distracted by the phone.
Tips
- Be nice to the phone operator about the annoying calls you receive. It's not their fault, and they'll be more willing to help you stop the calls if you're polite.
- If you are contacted by a human, ask for their business address. This stops annoying calls from up to 95% of calls from telemarketers and 100% of calls from fraudsters.
- If you are dialed by a machine, press 1 until the caller ends the call.
Warning
- Be careful when using the Call Return service, because sometimes callers can be rude if they don't expect you to call them to ask about the phone.
- Incoming call blocker blocks callers who don't have a code to reach you. This means that emergency calls can be blocked.
- If the call you don't want is harassment, such as the caller calling repeatedly and using offensive or threatening language, contact the appropriate authorities to file a report.
