Telemarketers or spam calls are just two reasons why a person might need to block incoming calls. Telemarketers, for example, are forbidden by law to mask their phone numbers to try and get around call blocking or caller ID. It is not easy to block a number on the landline as we do on Android and iPhones. The smartphones come with built-in features and third-party apps to block spam calls and messages. However, when you consider the land phone, it is not easy to block a number. Let’s see how to block a phone number on a landline, to protect you from telemarketers and spam callers.
How to Block a Phone Number on AT&T Landline
AT&T’s call blocking service allows users to block up to six incoming phone numbers from ringing on a landline. When a phone number is blocked and someone from that number calls your AT&T landline, he receives a message that you are not accepting the call. You may block an incoming phone number on an AT&T landline by following a few specific steps.
Turn Call Block/Call Screening on and off
Call Block, otherwise known as Call Screening, is a feature that allows you to block calls from up to 10 phone numbers within your local calling area for a low monthly rate.
Turn on: Press *60. If prompted, press 3 to turn the feature on.
Turn off: Press *80. If prompted, press 3 to turn the feature off.
Add and remove phone numbers
To add: Press #, dial the 10-digit number you want to add, and press # to confirm.
Repeat for each number you want to add.
To remove: Press *, dial the 10-digit number you wish to remove, and press * to confirm.
Repeat for each number you want to remove.
Helpful hints
- Make sure to include all 10-digits of the telephone number, including the area code.
- Press 0 at any time to repeat instructions.
- Long-distance numbers and numbers outside the calling area can’t be screened.
- Some mobile numbers can’t be blocked.
- This service isn’t available in all areas.
How to Block a Phone Number on Verizon
Verizon offers a residential phone service that includes several features. One of those features is call blocking, which allows you to prevent certain numbers from calling your home phone. However, if you are a new Verizon customer, they report that this feature is no longer available. If you have been a customer for some time and call blocking was included in your features, you may still use it. If you move or transfer your service into another name, this feature will be discontinued on your service. If you currently have this service, it is quite simple to use and involves only a few steps.
- Pick up the phone receiver and listen for the dial tone.
- Dial *60 or *1160 (if you are using a rotary phone). You will receive instructions for call blocking, and you need to follow the prompts to add a new number to your block list, add the last number that dialed you to your block list, remove a number from your block list, or edit/change a number on your block list.
- Listen for the number you just entered to be repeated back to you.
- Hang up your phone after you have entered the number you wish to block.
How to Block a Phone Number on a Vtech Phone
Before you use Call Block, you must first set up the list of numbers you want to block and then activate Call Block. You can change your Call Block list at any time.
Setting up your Call Block list and activating Call Block
- Lift the receiver and listen for the dial tone.
- Press “* 60”.
Dial 1160 on rotary or pulse-dialing phones.
In some areas, you must press “3” to turn Call Block on. - Listen to the voice-recorded instructions for Call Block options.
The phone numbers you enter on your Call Block list will be repeated to you.
By following the voice-recorded instructions, you can add the number of the last person who called you, add a new number, or change an existing number on your list. The voice-recorded instructions will also tell you how to add to your list if your list is full.
How to Block a Phone Number on Landline Spectrum
Block Anonymous Calls on Spectrum Phone
Calls that don’t show a caller ID are pretty sketchy. And, these are ones you need not concern yourself with. When you are a Spectrum subscriber you can program your home phone to block anonymous calls. You can set up your spectrum home phone to reject the calls that do not show a caller ID or are directed to you privately.
- Dial *77 to activate the service
- Dial *79 if you wish to deactivate the service
To do the same via your Spectrum account simply follow these steps
- Sign in to your account
- Click on the Voice Tab
- Go to Global Call Settings
- Now open Anonymous Call Rejection
- Enter your information
- Now click save
Any call which comes in without a caller ID, blocked or hidden, will be rejected by your Spectrum phone. The caller will get a message telling them you do not receive Caller ID Blocked calls, and they’ll be advised to unblock their number before trying again.
Block Unwanted Numbers on Spectrum Home Phone
There are numbers that show up with a Caller ID but are just as annoying as those that don’t. In this case, the above-mentioned feature will not be able to screen them. So, if you are thinking “how do I block calls that make it through?”, here is your answer.
Spectrum Home Phone lets you block selective numbers. You can block up to 30 phone numbers as Unwanted.
You can block calls from certain numbers if you don’t want to take them and the caller will hear a prerecorded message telling them that you are not taking calls at the moment.
- Dial *60 from your phone to activate this feature
- Dial *80 to deactivate this feature
To do the same via your Spectrum account simply follow these steps:
- Sign in to your account
- Click on the Voice Tab
- Go to Global Call Settings
- Now open Selective Call Rejection
- Follow the prompts
- Save your information and you are good to go.
How to Block a Phone Number on Sprint
Sprint customers can block phone numbers directly on the Sprint website. To learn how to do this, simply read and follow the instructions listed below.
Logging on and signing in
Open your web browser and go to www.sprint.com. Sign in to My Sprint with your login information.
My preferences
There is a section entitled My Preferences. Click My Preferences. Click on the Limits and Permissions option.
Limits options and line selection
In Limits and Permissions, there will be options. Click on Block Voice. Click on the phone you wish to block numbers from calling.
Number blocking and entry
Under Block Voice will be a list of options, including one called “Block only the following phone numbers for inbound and outbound calls”. You will be shown a text box. Enter the number you wish to block, then click on Add Number. Repeat as necessary.
Saving
Once you have added the numbers you wish to block, click on Save Changes.
Reset
Your phone will have to be reset in order for the changes to take effect, and it takes a few minutes for it to go through. Power off your phone, then power it on again.
How to Block a Phone Number on a Panasonic Phone
The most significant challenge is that most individuals in possession of Panasonic phones always find it hard to block these calls. They would ask, how do you block a number on a Panasonic home phone? This should not be a worry anymore. Follow this process and secure your calls.
Select “CID” or the caller ID button
Locate the caller ID button on your Panasonic cordless phone, then select it. A caller list should appear on the screen, displaying your call history.
Select the phone number to be blocked
Once you see a caller list on the screen, scroll until you identify the phone number you would like to block. Select the number, and once you do so, a “save” option should appear.
Save the number to the call barred list
After selecting the entry you want to block, you should see an option to save the number. Select this option to register the entry on your phone. You should then be presented with two options: either save the number to your phone book or the call block list. Select the latter, and the phone number will be registered in the list.
To know whether the process is successful, look out for a mute sign that appears in the form of a canceled arrow on the screen. If the process is successful, the handset will disconnect the call provided the phone number corresponds to any number in the call block list.
Bottom Line
Unwanted callers are a nuisance, to say the least. And, they should be done away with before they ruin your day. By activating these features you won’t have to deal with them on a daily basis. So, go ahead and get working. Sure, it’ll take some time when you first set it all up. But it’d be worth it. With simplified instructions, you won’t have trouble figuring it all out.