You don’t have to tell us twice, we know robocalls are annoying. Our Robocall Challenge generated advice we wanted to share, from consumers who say they’re using certain tricks to stop these harassing calls now.
Here are the tips, in a nutshell:
- Ask your telephone company if it allows customers to block calls from multiple phone numbers, but note that it may charge for this service. You might also want to check out the call-blocking services offered by other companies, including Voice over Internet Providers.
- Search online shopping sites for “call blocker” — you’ll find a variety of products you can buy for your landline, along with reviews about how well they work.
- Consider putting a “special information tone” that signals a non-working number at the beginning of your voicemail or answering machine message.
- If you have a smartphone, look for call-blocking apps — and reviews — in your app store.
- Use a “virtual phone line” with call screening options, forward that number to your actual phone, and only give out the virtual number. This option might work if you’re willing to change your phone number and are tech-savvy enough to set up call forwarding and screening.
These tips might not work for everyone, but the good news is that they are helping some people block illegal robocalls. What works best for you?
For more information about the FTC’s battle against illegal robocallers, visit ftc.gov/robocalls.
Comment Policy
Privacy Act Statement
