Block Unwanted Calls on Your Landline Phone

Understanding Unwanted Calls on Landline Phones

Unwanted calls on landline phones have become a widespread problem affecting millions of households. According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Americans received an estimated 3.7 billion robocalls in 2023, with many of these calls targeting landline numbers. These calls range from telemarketing pitches and scams to political messages and surveys. Landline phones are particularly vulnerable to unwanted calls because landline numbers are often easier to obtain through public directories, business listings, and data brokers.

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Landlines face different challenges than mobile phones when it comes to call filtering. Many landline services through traditional telephone companies offer fewer built-in protections compared to modern smartphone technology. Additionally, landline users tend to be older adults who may be more frequently targeted by scammers attempting fraudulent schemes. Understanding the types of calls you receive is the first step toward managing them effectively.

The calls you receive may come from several sources. Robocalls are automated calls that use pre-recorded messages or text-to-speech technology. Spoofed calls appear to come from a local number, legitimate business, or government agency, but actually originate from a different source. Telemarketing calls promote products or services. Scam calls attempt to steal money or personal information. Some unwanted calls come from legitimate organizations with which you have no relationship.

Practical takeaway: Keep a log of unwanted calls for one week, noting the time, number, and type of call. This information helps you identify patterns and determine which blocking methods would work best for your situation.

Using Your Telephone Company's Call Blocking Services

Most landline telephone service providers offer call blocking tools as part of their service or as optional add-ons. These services work by screening incoming calls against databases of known spam and scam numbers. Major providers including AT&T, Verizon, CenturyLink, and regional carriers have implemented their own versions of call blocking technology. Some services are provided at no cost, while others charge a monthly fee ranging from $3 to $15 depending on the service level and provider.

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AT&T Call Protect is available to residential customers and includes a basic tier that filters calls and provides notifications. Verizon offers Call Filter, which includes options for enhanced blocking. CenturyLink provides the Secure Phone Service that identifies and blocks suspicious calls. To access these services, contact your landline provider directly or log into your account online. You can usually enable these services through your account settings or by calling customer service. The setup process typically takes just a few minutes.

When you enable your provider's call blocking service, you choose your blocking level. Basic blocking typically stops calls from known spam and scam numbers. Enhanced or premium blocking may also filter out calls from numbers that match certain patterns associated with scams. You can usually create a whitelist of numbers you want to receive calls from, ensuring that legitimate contacts like family members, doctors, or your bank always reach you. Many services also allow you to customize settings for different times of day.

Some telephone companies offer call filtering that shows you information about incoming calls before you answer. This service displays a warning label on suspicious calls, helping you decide whether to answer. For example, a call might be labeled "Likely Spam" or "Potential Scam." This gives you valuable information without completely blocking the call, which is useful if you occasionally need to receive calls from businesses or organizations.

Practical takeaway: Contact your landline service provider this week and ask about their call blocking options. Request a detailed explanation of what each service level includes, what it costs, and how to enable it. Ask specifically whether your provider offers services at no additional charge before accepting any paid options.

Setting Up Call Blocking Through Your Phone Equipment

Many modern landline phones and phone systems have built-in call blocking features that you can configure directly on the device. If your landline service includes a digital phone box or gateway device, this equipment often has a web interface where you can manage blocked numbers and call screening settings. Older rotary phones and basic analog phones may not have these capabilities, but corded and cordless phones manufactured in recent years frequently include this technology.

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Digital phone equipment typically allows you to block specific numbers by entering them into a "blocked calls" list. You can usually do this through a menu on the phone itself or through a web portal provided by your service. When a blocked number attempts to call, the call either goes directly to voicemail or produces a busy signal. Some equipment allows you to block entire number ranges or calls from numbers that don't display caller ID information. This prevents calls from unidentified numbers if you choose this option, though this may also block legitimate calls from some businesses that use older systems.

Landline phones with caller ID and call blocking capabilities let you block numbers directly from your incoming call history. After receiving an unwanted call, you can press a button labeled "Block" or "Block Call" on your phone. The phone stores this number in its blocked list, and future calls from that number will not ring through. Many phones store between 50 and 200 blocked numbers, so you can accumulate a substantial list over time. If you need to unblock a number, the phone's menu allows you to remove it from the blocked list.

Some cordless phone systems come with base stations that include advanced call blocking. These base stations can be programmed to block specific numbers, block all private numbers, or block all calls except those from programmed contact numbers. If you have a newer cordless system with multiple handsets, blocking a number on the base station typically blocks it on all handsets in that system. Check your phone's user manual or manufacturer's website to determine which blocking features your specific equipment supports.

Practical takeaway: Locate your landline phone or equipment's user manual by searching the manufacturer's name and model number online. Read the sections on caller ID and call blocking to understand exactly what features are available. Practice blocking a test number or a number from your recent call history to confirm how your specific equipment handles blocked calls.

Registering on the National Do Not Call Registry

The National Do Not Call Registry is a free service managed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that allows you to register your landline number to reduce unwanted telemarketing calls. While this registry does not stop all unwanted calls, it provides legal protections against most commercial telemarketing calls. Since its launch in 2003, the registry has accumulated over 275 million registered numbers. Registered numbers must be excluded from telemarketing call lists within 31 days, and telemarketers who violate this rule can face significant fines.

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To register your landline number with the National Do Not Call Registry, you have two options. You can visit the official registry website at donotcall.gov and enter your phone number. The website asks for your primary phone number and optionally allows you to register additional numbers. Registration is permanent and does not expire, so you only need to register once. Alternatively, you can call the registry's toll-free number 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you wish to register, and an automated system will register that number immediately.

It is important to understand what the National Do Not Call Registry covers and what it does not. The registry protects you from most commercial telemarketing calls. However, the registry does not stop calls from political organizations, charitable groups, survey companies, or organizations with which you have an existing relationship. Additionally, scammers and fraudsters often ignore the registry entirely, so scam calls may continue despite registration. The registry also does not prevent calls from legitimate creditors attempting to collect debts, or from companies you have done business with in the past 18 months.

After registering, you should continue to receive marketing calls from some sources. If you receive a telemarketing call from a company that is supposed to honor the registry, you can file a complaint with the FTC at donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222. Complaints help the FTC identify companies that are violating the law. The FTC forwards complaints to the company's regulator or attorney general for investigation. You can also report violations to your state's attorney general office.

Practical takeaway: Register your landline number on the National Do Not Call Registry today by visiting donotcall.gov or calling 1-888-382-1222. Write down the date of registration. If you continue to receive marketing calls from the same telemarketer after 31 days, report the violation immediately to help enforcement efforts.

Handling Scam and Spoofed Calls

Scam and spoofed calls represent the most serious

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