# Can You Block A Caller? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 23, 2008, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-block-a-caller/450411 "2008-05-23T20:34:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-block-a-caller/450411/1 "2008-05-23T20:34:05Z")
Is there some \*69 feature that allows one to block phone calls from one specific incoming caller? If not, how else can you stop a bank from erroneously calling you and bugging you for collections for someone else? And, if I have told them to stop calling and they continue, isn’t this harassment? What’s the SD on this? Gotta go! The phone is ringing… 😉 - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-block-a-caller/450411/2 "2008-05-23T21:30:09Z")
I specifically asked to block a single number and my cell phone company (T-Mobile) said they could do no such thing. Their only solution was to change my phone number. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-block-a-caller/450411/3 "2008-05-23T21:34:20Z")
It’ll depend on your phone company. I can dial \*60 and specify up to 12 numbers to be blocked. I can either enter them explicitly or tell it to block the last number that phoned me. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-block-a-caller/450411/4 "2008-05-23T21:36:16Z")
Verizon has had call-block for years. ---
**Author:** ![Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Can_Handle_the_Truth)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-block-a-caller/450411/5 "2008-05-23T22:41:42Z")
[This](http://www.privacycorps.com/products/?id=20) could be a solution. > [@](#): > > **Screening options:** > > Block anonymous and unidentified numbers, while allowing all others; > > Block up to 175 numbers, area codes or prefixes, or; > > Allow only callers you ‘Invite’ by name, number, or ‘Wildcard’ to ring your phone, and handle others as you choose. > > With each entry you decide between: > > Allowing the caller to ring your phone; > > Sending the caller directly to your VoiceMail or answering device without ringing your phone; > > Sending the caller directly to any extension without ringing other phones (using the optional Remotes), or; > > Ignore the caller completely and go unanswered, without ringing the phone ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_Bowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@Doug\_Bowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_Bowe)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-block-a-caller/450411/6 "2008-05-23T23:29:42Z")
[QUOTE=Canadjun] It’ll depend on your phone company. I can dial \*60 and specify up to 12 numbers to be blocked. I can either enter them explicitly or tell it to block the last number that phoned me. [/QUOTE] A T & T offers the same service (\*60) but rejects calls for up to 10 numbers. The downside is the caller will hear a recording saying that you are not accepting calls from that number. If it’s a human, they can call from another number. If it’s an automated caller, you’re in the clear. Oh, and if a bank keeps calling you for a false collection you might want to follow up. Could you be a victim of identity theft? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2008, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-block-a-caller/450411/7 "2008-05-24T12:40:00Z")
[QUOTE=Doug Bowe] Oh, and if a bank keeps calling you for a false collection you might want to follow up. Could you be a victim of identity theft? [/QUOTE] I think they are calling for someone else entirely. They just have Jinx’s number. Sometimes you’re better off giving a little to get them to stop calling. Instead of telling them it’s the wrong number, tell them that the person used to live here, but moved out or passed away. I got a telemarketer to stop calling my wife that way. Another thing you could try is saying “This is XXX’s work, you need to stop calling him here, if you need to talk to him call his cell phone or home phone, do not call this number again…(they ask for cell phone number)…No, I can’t give out his cell phone number” I had two employees getting collections calls at work, they both stopped when I used that line." I _believe_ under some sort of fair collecting laws, they can’t call the person at work after they’ve been told not to. Not that collections places haven’t been known to break the law. You could also look up the fair collection law stuff and probably find out what laws they are breaking by harrasing you, the wrong person, and find out who to report them to, and then report them. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2008, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-block-a-caller/450411/8 "2008-05-24T13:02:23Z")
[QUOTE=Can Handle the Truth] [This](http://www.privacycorps.com/products/?id=20) could be a solution. [/QUOTE] It appears to have been discontinued - try clicking the “For more information” links on that page.