Tele Block feature - what does it really do?

[Mike_TV]

Can someone fill me in on the Tele Block feature on what it really does? I understand that the idea is to submit numbers to a community list to block telemarketers but it seems to be a "fire and forgot" type form with the user having no idea on the status or what happened.

I'm guessing there is some review process before a number gets block?

Would be nice to see what numbers were submitted, the status of each one, etc.

[MisterEd]

I asked the same question a while ago. Basically it's pretty useless (at least as it was explained to me by support). The was the answer I got:

Our telemarketer block is a VOIPo community driven block list. Basically if enough subscribers block the same number, the number is blocked for all that have this feature enabled.

When adding numbers to the list it would also be beneficial to black list the number on your account, this setting is immediate and does not rely on enough subscribers having applied the same number.

Regards,
James
VOIPo.com

So basically, a large number of VOIPO SUBSCRIBERS have to enter the SAME NUMBER for it to be blocked using that feature. BLACKLIST is your best option if you are getting multiple calls from the same number because the chances of the same telemarketers from your local area harassing multiple VOIPo customers around the country is slim to none. Also, most telemarketing calls are pretty much localized so this feature really can't be too effective.

[bwarden]

Actually, if you look up the numbers from telemarketing calls you receive at, e.g. http://www.whocalled.us, you'll likely find that most call a pretty wide area.

[voipinit]

I prefer the 'disconnected' option over blacklist.

[MisterEd]

Actually, if you look up the numbers from telemarketing calls you receive at, e.g. http://www.whocalled.us, you'll likely find that most call a pretty wide area.

I've checked similar sites and 90% of my annoying calls are local. My favorite trick is forwarding the ones I know to a local councilman's office or a porn line because the CID is the original caller.

The other 10% can't be stopped no matter what because they use strange numbers like 1000000 or 0214567 etc and keep changing them.

[aposner]

In the absence of a help link, can someone tell me the difference between:
blacklist and disconnected?

Also why do we need a whitelist. I assume if a number isn't listed on the routing list it by definition is on the whitelist?

[Mike_TV]

Alll good info from the replies. I too am confused over the blacklist and disconnected.

[voipinit]

Whitelisted numbers will let the call thru no matter what options are set - for example if DND is enabled, a whitelisted number will still ring thru.

Blacklisted numbers play a message to the caller that the number is blacklisted and hangs up.

Disconnected either hangs up immediately (the caller never hears a ring), or in some areas the 'disconnected' signal VOIPo sends will result in 'this number has been disconnected' type message.

Your phone will not ring with either a blacklisted number or a disconnected number that is set in call routes.

Don't forget wild cards when blocking calls:
800******* will block all 800 numbers.

800345**** will block all 800 numbers with a 345 exchange.

0********* will block all calls starting with 0.
well you get the idea.

[stevech]

I've checked similar sites and 90% of my annoying calls are local. My favorite trick is forwarding the ones I know to a local councilman's office or a porn line because the CID is the original caller.
.

My choice, when I *do* answer, is to say "please hold on while I get the person that can decide..". Then I put the phone down for as many minutes as they'll waste waiting. I figure this hurts their measure of success and the rep will get fired.

[MisterEd]

I would LOVE to be able to "route" calls by the caller-id name.