How to Block Unwanted Cell Phone Calls

There was a time when cell phones were our own private connection to friends and family. Nobody had this number unless you gave it to them, and you didn’t have to worry about telemarketers or other organizations calling you.

Well, today it’s a different story. And chances are, you receive several unsolicited calls on your cell phone weekly. They come at all times of the day and interrupt your day, your meals, even your sleep! But fortunately, there’s an easy way of dealing with these unwanted phone calls: block them!

Ways to Block Unwanted Cell Phone Calls

1. Get on the “Do Not Call” registry.

If random phone calls are starting to get under your skin, add your number to the National Do Not Call Registry.  This notifies telemarketers that you don’t want to be contacted. Not only can you register your cell phone, you can also register your home phone. Unfortunately, adding your number to the registry doesn’t block all unwanted calls. You may still receive calls from charities or political organizations. Even so, you’ll likely see a significant reduction in the number of solicitation calls.

2. Ask to be removed from an organization’s calling list.

If you receive calls from numbers you don’t recognize, your first inclination might be to ignore these calls. But I’ve learned from experience that ignoring a phone call doesn’t make the call stop.

Telemarketers and organizations are relentless and some will call over and over again until you pick up. To deal with this annoyance and stop the calls, answer the phone call and ask the person to remove your name from the calling list.

Sometimes, you won’t get a human on the other end of the call, but an automated or computer message instead. If you know the name of the organization that’s calling you, call the organization directly, speak with a real person and ask to have your name removed from their list.

3. Don’t sign up for stuff.

Unless you’re absolutely interested in a product and want information, don’t sign up for random stuff. These sign up sheets may ask for your name, address and phone number. Once you give a company your phone number, you’re basically giving them license to call your cell phone and pester you. If you don’t want a slew of phone calls, keep your cell phone number private. Avoid filling out online forms, signing up for less-than-credible rewards programs or even writing your phone number on a paper form.

4. Block numbers directly from your phone.

Most phones have settings that let you block numbers as they come in. You can block the number after the call ends, or while the phone is still ringing, depending on your phone.

Once a call ends, tap the number and you’ll see a list of options, such as “create a new contact” or “share contact.” You may also see an option to “block this caller.” Choose this option and you’re finished!

Once you block the number, you’ll no longer receive these phone calls. There’s also a way to unblock this number later on. Your cell phone keeps a log of every number you’ve blocked in your settings, along with an option to unblock these numbers.

In addition to your phone’s built-in feature, you can download a call blocking app. Download the app, select numbers you want to block and you’ll no longer be bothered by pesky people.

The takeaway here? Your cell phone is your own private number, and you have the right to decide who calls and who you just don’t want to hear from. You can’t prevent all random calls, but if you safeguard your number and ask organizations to stop calling you, this can result in fewer phone calls and more peace and quiet.