# Blocked Phone Calls

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocked-phone-calls/93581>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [November 15, 2001, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocked-phone-calls/93581 "2001-11-15T19:09:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jp5105](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/34f0e0/32.png) [@jp5105](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jp5105)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocked-phone-calls/93581/1 "2001-11-15T19:09:55Z")

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Hey! A friend of mine is having a problem getting phone calls that have been blocked on caller ID. She thinks she knows who it is, but isn’t sure, so would like to get the number. The phone company won’t cooperate, of course, and she doesn’t want to involve the police. Anyone have any ideas about how to get the number?

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**Author:** ![slowhand53](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@slowhand53](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slowhand53)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocked-phone-calls/93581/2 "2001-11-15T19:40:54Z")

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impossible unless she gets them to call an 800 number, but then it would have to be a personal number rather than a biz line that gets routed (i can explain if needed)

if the person is harrasing her then involve the cops

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**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocked-phone-calls/93581/3 "2001-11-15T19:54:52Z")

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You might try Privacy Manager. It works in conjunction with Caller ID. If the callers’ number doesn’t show, Privacy Manager kicks in. In order for the call to go through, they must press a button that allows their number to be transmitted or give their name after a beep. If they choose to allow their number to be transmitted the call goes through. If the caller gives a name Privacy Manager will call you then give the persons name, you have to press a button to receive the call.

This is a service offered by Pacific Bell, and it’s eliminated all of my Telemarketing calls, except those made by Pacific Bell. I’d be surprised if other carriers do not have this option.

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**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocked-phone-calls/93581/4 "2001-11-15T20:08:51Z")

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US West has the service **stuffinb** mentions. People can be required to enter \*82 before the number they’re dialing, then the number they’re dialing from shows up in caller id. We have the hide-our-number thing set up because we have relatives we might have to call who we don’t want to know our phone number. We also have friends who are junior- and high-school teachers who don’t accept blocked numbers, and we always have to enter that \*82 before we call them.