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How to stop unwanted phone calls
We all know the pain in the neck that is getting a phone call from someone that you not only do not welcome, but that you outright cannot stand. This can lead us to essentially throwing our arms up in the air and proclaiming there is nothing we can do about it. You know in the back of your mind this issue is not going to go away until you proactively do something about it. Can we stop it?
Yes, you can. There are techniques you have at your disposal that you can use to stop those unwanted phone calls. First of all you may want to register your phone number, depending on your location, to the USA National Do Not Call Registry or Canada National Do Not Call List (DNCL). The Registration is free and permanent but keep in mind that Do Not Call Lists apply nationally, not Internationally. Even if your number is registered, charities, political organizations, and telephone surveyors may continue to call you. Companies with which you do business may also continue to call, unless you have asked them to stop calling you.If they call your landline phone number there is a good chance that you could block the caller. Most phone companies nowadays are now offering their landline customers the ability to block certain numbers from calling them. Call your local provider and have them clearly explain to you the steps to block a harassing phone number.
AT&T - If you are a customer of AT&T wireless, you can make use of a premium service called Smart Limits which will allow you to limit who can call or text you by blocking or allowing certain phone numbers. There is small additional monthly fee for this feature.
Verizon - Go to VerizonWireless and log into your account. You can use Call & Message Blocking available through Spam Controls. Go to My Verizon » My Services » Verizon Safeguards » Spam Controls. Here you can add up to five phone numbers that you do not want to call or text you.
Sprint - not an easy way to block unwanted callers, though there is a work-around. You can block all numbers which are not in your phone contacts. Go to Settings » Security » Others » Call settings. Here you will find that option.
The handset manufacturers have started providing features to help you block phone numbers. Look out for built-in or downloadable options to stop unwanted incoming calls.
Nokia symbian phone users can download apps like Blacklist which can block specific phone numbers from making a call.
Samsung gives you the ability to send an incoming call directly to voicemail, without it even ringing on your device. Look for the "block list" feature on your device.
Sony-Ericsson mobile phones have built-in blocking functions, simply go to Settings » Calls » Manage Calls » Accept Calls » Only from list, press Edit to choose the numbers.
Blackberry owners can use an app called "Call Blocker Free". Call Blocker provides call blocking on a set of profiles like BlackList, WhiteList, All Except BlackList, Only Address Book, No Calls etc. It is simple to use with no complex operations required.
iPhone does not provide a straight-forward option. There is an app called "Calls BlackList" that can free you from unwanted calls. In fact there are plenty of apps that can block all "private" numbers or a single caller, whole area codes, or white-list all your contacts and block everyone else.
You do not have to sit back and take unwanted phone calls from strangers or telemarketers. You have options and tools to stop it.
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