Annoying Phone Calls

GONE!

Offshore telemarketers need not worry about the provisions of the National Do Not Call List because they cannot be prosecuted for calling us. We have had our phone number for nearly six years and still get calls for the person who had our number prior to us. Either some law firm or a collection agency asks for an individual whom we explain is not at our number. SIX YEARS!

With only Caller ID we must check the display to decide whether or not to answer a caller. It does not take long to tire of the call interruptions of a ringing telephone. Ignoring a call might result in a voicemail message that will get deleted as well. Soon enough we feel that we are tethered to our phones.

A couple years ago we discovered the Digitone Call Blocker. wOw… did it ever deliver on its promise to block unwanted calls. Even the testimonials from users of the device were strongly positive. Within a few days of using our Digitone we understood the supportive praise it received.

Now… in January the new Digitone Call Blocker Plus will be available. Beyond having a larger block list it offers some new features that make the upgrade purchase worthwhile. We will now block the undesirable exchange within an area code, allowing other exchanges in that area code to ring through. Name ID blocking will be excellent for entities that use multiple numbers for the same name ID. A few other new features will make the "Plus" model a desirable item.

When the new model becomes available for shipping in January we will receive an e-mail from the manufacturer. I suspect that there will be initially a high demand that could create back-orders. Nonetheless, the Digitone Call Blocker Plus will be worth waiting for.

Unwanted Phone Calls

TeleZapper II

Digitone 10

Combining a couple technologies to quiet ringing phones has been a blessing in our home. 

The TeleZapper was especially affective until the automated dialers were programmed to ignore the answer tones emitted on not-in-service lines. The TeleZapper still works for some calls. (Ours is plugged into to a separate phone jack with simple landline phone attached.)

Researching call-blocking technologies brought me to the Digitone 10. Its description seemed to present a device that provided needed relief from unwanted calls.

I soon had the combined services of the two devices. I posted a review on Amazon. That was some time ago. Recently I got an e-mail from someone wanting to know if the TeleZapper and Digitone were still working OK for me.

After answering in the affirmative I mentioned how I tracked blocked numbers and how I added to or deleted numbers from the Digitone Call Block list.

I can block an entire area code and still "Invite" numbers to ring through. An "After Hours" mode recognizes a time period that is programmed to accept no calls. An exception is any number I have placed on my "VIP List."

Our Digitone resides between its own landline phone jack cable and our Panasonic cordless phone base.

Lots of choices/options for control. Well designed programming methods that should fit the needs of most users.

Advanced TeleZapper

The original TeleZapper model emitted only one tone that signaled automated dialers to drop the called number from its list. It was highly effective until the marketers updated their dialers to require the triple-tone signal for disconnected numbers.


A seller at e-bay is offering a used TeleZapper II (that emits the triple-tone) where my $15 bid is currently the highest. It can be found for around $35 at various places online; however, if I can get it for twenty dollars or less with the "free shipping" offer I will be satisfied.


The original single-tone model is currently serving our phone line. The Digitone Call Blocker also serves our land line system. Still, when we answer a telemarketer that has not yet been blocked the TeleZapper might perform its magic at that moment.


Our phones are much quieter now since using the Digitone device. Any further degree of telephone silence is our goal. We do not mind the sound of a ringing phone when it is someone we are willing to speak with.

Stop Unwanted Phone Calls

This unit seemed to offer the best features; albeit, a bit on the pricey side. It has an 80-number capacity. A blocked number is answered after the first ring, then the caller gets disconnected. The unit can be set so that the first ring is heard, or a silent mode provides no audible evidence of a blocked call coming in. Silent mode seems desirable.


It is possible to block all 800 numbers (or any entire area code) and still program specific numbers in that area code to get through.


And blocking numbers one-by-one is simple.


A "night mode" blocks any and all calls (excepting VIP calls) for a specified time period. Numbers placed on a VIP List will still ring through. Awesome!


So, why have we bothered to get this unit? Because we are bothered by not having it. When we placed our phone number on the National Do Not Call List our expectation was that eventually the unsolicited marketing calls would end. Never happened!


Lately there has been an increase in calls to us by telemarketers. When the presidential campaigns ramp up we expect telephone traffic from those entities. Unwanted callers will only reach us once. Afterwards we will not be bothered by them.


Manufacturers of call-blocking devices must be pleased to have a market for their units. I gladly pay their cost for having the benefit (and features) offered.


Are you pestered by telemarketing phone calls? If so, how do you handle them?