How do you block a phone number?

Chiba

I want a phone number blocked. I'm 100% sure. I have AT&T, but the website states "you cannot block a phone number from calling your phone". Why not?! Does anyone know if there's some way you can? Or am I stuck ignoring things?

Thanks.

DeathPrawn

I don't know if it's possible or not, but it's easy enough to fudge it if you're on a cell phone. Just put the number in its own special "don't call me" group, and set that group's ringtone to silent.

Topia

If it's a person you can tell them to stop, or file a restraining order. If it's a company (most) you can be asked to be put on their no-call list and they have to comply or it's an offense.

Nibble

Some phones have this option; or if it's a smartphone or pda phone, then you can download software to do it.

Willeth

Topia wrote: »

If it's a person you can tell them to stop, or file a restraining order. If it's a company (most) you can be asked to be put on their no-call list and they have to comply or it's an offense.

A little aside, but there's a national Do Not Call list for the US, and the UK's is called the Telephone Preference Service. If you're added to either of them it's brilliant, because it's illegal for any of them to knowingly phone you if you're on the list.

So you can just politely inform them that you're on the list and they can't wait to hang up on you.

Ultimanecat

Blocking from the provider is possible, I guess just not through AT&T. I know this to be true because one of my friends blocked me as a joke once. The message states "This number is not accepting phone calls at this time" or something like that, and it doesn't require a phone call to the provider or anything...it was some sort of punch code.

Alright, I looked it up. With most (American) providers you block numbers from calling you using *60. You either need to sign up for this (sometimes it's included in an extended services package) and be billed monthly, or some providers allow you to do it without signing up for a daily fee (ouch) as long as it's utilized.

Still not too sure about AT&T or cellular services, though.

Malkor

Ultimanecat wrote: »

Blocking from the provider is possible, I guess just not through AT&T. I know this to be true because one of my friends blocked me as a joke once. The message states "This number is not accepting phone calls at this time" or something like that, and it doesn't require a phone call to the provider or anything...it was some sort of punch code.

Yeah, it is possible, but I think it depends on what kind of equipment your number is 'hosted' on. They might have you on a 5E switch which I think is less flexible than once based on a server.

Ultimanecat

Found this website for AT&T call screening in PA. If Malkor is right, then you may still not be able to do this. Also, it's pretty pricey ($5.00 a month), so you probably should really not like whoever is calling, or use it to the fullest and think of other callers you can spare to hear less from.

UnknownSaint

I think it would be helpful if the OP elaborated on the circumstances of the problem caller. A few months back I ran into a similar situation (though I have Nextel and could not get a single number blocked) with some guy from Florida who was calling me every 20-30 minutes for two days straight, never speaking any English and usually hanging up as soon as I answered. Finally I answered in Spanish, he said a few things, and then I told him I would have immigration to his house the next day if he called this number again. That was the end of that.

Not sure how helpful that is, but really your situation could be as easy as a threat to call the police.

Chiba

It's not a business. It's a very mentally unstable ex-girlfriend. Just learned yesterday that she was trying to start dating both me and another guy at the same time, and this guy is who she cheated with me earlier in the year and he never knew about me. Gah, nevermind, it's a long story and it basically amounts to she's been lying to me and this other guy for a whole year, hundreds of lies, and i just want absolutely nothing to do with her. I've told her such, but i want as many things as i can to give her that message. I have no need to hear anything she says because it'll be a lie...about 100% of the time.

So I guess my only option is extra fees? $5 a month actually might be worth it.

CoJoeTheLawyer

Chiba wrote: »

It's not a business. It's a very mentally unstable ex-girlfriend. Just learned yesterday that she was trying to start dating both me and another guy at the same time, and this guy is who she cheated with me earlier in the year and he never knew about me. Gah, nevermind, it's a long story and it basically amounts to she's been lying to me and this other guy for a whole year, hundreds of lies, and i just want absolutely nothing to do with her. I've told her such, but i want as many things as i can to give her that message. I have no need to hear anything she says because it'll be a lie...about 100% of the time.

So I guess my only option is extra fees? $5 a month actually might be worth it.

Well, you could spend an extra $60 a year...or you could just not pick up the phone when she calls, erase her texts/voice mails as they come in without listening/reading them, and eventually she'll get the hint. K.I.S.S. and all that.

Plus, blocking her current phone number will not prevent her form calling you from a different number. Disciplining yourself not to talk to her at all will last you a lifetime.