Telephone Call Blocker advice

libra10

We have decided to buy new landline phones with a call blocking
system.


Have read several reviews online, but becoming confused with 'too much information'.


Basically we want phone handsets where we can block calls individually, and are easy to use.


The BT 8500 seems to be recommended, but not sure about the feature which asks callers not listed in your phone book, and asks who they are. Have heard reviews where important calls have failed to come through because genuine callers can be intimidated by the message stating that they are being monitored by BT.


Would appreciate it if anyone who uses a call blocker can advise and recommend.

darbysth

We have the BT 8500,best purchase we have ever made.People who have to identify themselves prior to getting through never seem to take issue.
We get zero nuisance calls now.

penrhyn

Cant advise on call blocking phones, recently bought a refurbished CPR 1200 v108. It just seems to work, no unwanted calls for over a week, usually get one or two a day.

libra10

Thank you darbysth for replying.


We have been looking at the BT 8500 on YouTube and review sites. It seems to be just what we are looking for. It was just the fact that a message seems to tell callers their calls are being monitored by BT. It might be a bit off-putting for some callers.


I also read that a user had missed an important call because the caller didn't follow the instructions and there was no way to answer the call.


Thank you for the information, much appreciated.

JJ_Egan

BT 8500 i get an unknown call and it gets a message to leave a message .
I can check the number of that call via my contacts or via Google .
If its known settings and its added to the whitelist baddy and its blocked .

Occasional call from a relative etc may mean they leave a message or not . Once you see the number you can check .
Very very slight occasional negative against the huge number that just don't get through at all .

libra10

Thanks very much for everyone's help.


It looks like the 8500 is the best phone.


Your help is appreciated.

bod1467

+1 for the BT8500. Not a single SPAM call since we got one several months ago ... used to get at least 1 per day before then.

libra10

Thanks bod1467. It sounds like a very good phone. Have you experienced any negatives?

Toxteth_OGrady

+1 also for the BT8500 - it's brilliant.

One minor negative for me is, very infrequently, a new caller that I would normally be happy to take a call from is put off by the Call Guardian message and simply hangs up.

The benefits however massively outweigh this and the impact can be minimised by manually adding as many numbers as you know to the Contacts list beforehand - thus allowing somebody who is calling for the 1st time to the phone to get straight through, as all Contacts are whitelisted.

I would also like a feature where I could whitelist my own area code but aside from that it's a great phone and extremely effective at blocking nuisance calls.

:cool:

TOG

libra10

Thanks very much for your comments Toxteth_OGrady, it is just the thought that someone I would like to speak to might be put off from continuing with the call.


Is there any way that you can check if this happens or phone back, or even cut into the system to speak to the person?


It does sound though that the benefits definitely outweigh one small negative.


Thanks for your help.

Toxteth_OGrady

libra10 wrote: »

Is there any way that you can check if this happens or phone back, or even cut into the system to speak to the person?

The number of the caller will be in your call log so you can Google it and/or call back, unless it is a WITHHELD, UNAVAILABLE or INTERNATIONAL.

You have to slightly change your mindset and start thinking that if a call is important the caller will try again or leave a voicemail or, if not, then it is 99.99% likely to be spam.

If you start picking up on WITHHELDs, UNAVAILABLEs etc because you think you might be missing something then there's no point having the phone, as you will be circumventing the blocking feature and end up answering spam.

:cool:

TOG