The fastest way to stop telemarketer calls

Register your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry, then block individual numbers as they call. The registry stops most legitimate telemarketers within 31 days, though it does not stop political organizations, charities, surveys, or companies you have done business with in the past 18 months. For those calls, you will need to block them manually on your phone or ask the caller to remove you from their list.

The National Do Not Call Registry is free and takes two minutes to register. You can add your number at donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you want to protect. Once registered, telemarketers have 31 days to stop calling. If they keep calling after that, you can file a complaint on the same website.

While you wait for the registry to work, block numbers as they call. Every phone — iPhone, Android, and landline — has a built-in block feature that sends calls straight to voicemail. The steps differ slightly by phone type, but the result is the same: the caller cannot reach you, and you will not see a missed call notification.

Key Takeaways

  • Register at donotcall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222 to add your number to the National Do Not Call Registry, which stops most telemarketer calls within 31 days.
  • The registry does not cover political calls, charities, surveys, or companies you have recently done business with, so you will need to block those numbers manually.
  • Block individual numbers directly on your phone by opening the call history, tapping the number, and selecting "Block this Caller" or similar wording.
  • If a telemarketer calls after you have registered and blocked them, file a complaint at donotcall.gov with the date and time of the call.

How to block numbers on an iPhone

Open the Phone app and go to the Recents tab at the bottom. Find the telemarketer's number in your call history — it will show as a missed call or an incoming call you answered. Tap the small circle with an "i" next to the number, then scroll down and tap "Block this Caller." The number is now blocked and future calls from it will go straight to voicemail.

If you want to block a number before they call, you can add it manually. Open Contacts, tap the plus sign to create a new contact, enter the number, and save it. Then go back to that contact, tap "Block this Caller," and confirm. You can also block numbers from text messages the same way — tap the message, then tap "Block this Caller" at the top.

To see all your blocked numbers, open Settings, tap Phone, and scroll down to "Blocked Contacts." From there you can unblock any number if you change your mind. Blocked callers will not know they are blocked — the call will straightforward fail to go through on their end.

How to block numbers on Android

Open the Phone app and go to the Recents or Call History tab. Find the telemarketer's number and press and hold it until a menu appears. Tap "Block number" or "Add to block list" — the exact wording depends on your phone manufacturer. The number is now blocked and will not ring through to you.

On Samsung phones, open the Phone app, go to Recents, tap and hold the number, and select "Block number." On Google Pixel phones, tap the number, then tap the three dots at the top right and select "Block number." On other Android phones, the steps are similar but the menu names may vary slightly.

To see your blocked numbers, open the Phone app and look for a "Blocked" or "Block list" option in the settings or menu. Most Android phones let you unblock a number from the same place. Like iPhones, blocked callers will not know they are blocked — they will straightforward get a message that the call could not go through.

How to block numbers on a landline

If you have a traditional landline through a phone company like Verizon, AT&T, or a local provider, call your phone company's customer service number and ask about their call-blocking service. Most major carriers offer a free or low-cost feature that blocks specific numbers. Some services block by category — for example, blocking all calls from unknown numbers — while others let you block individual numbers.

Verizon offers Call Filter, AT&T offers Call Protect, and most other carriers have similar services. You can usually turn these on through your online account or by calling customer service. Some services are free; others cost a few dollars per month. Ask your carrier what is included with your plan before you pay for an upgrade.

If your landline phone has a built-in display and menu system, you may also be able to block numbers directly from the phone itself. Check your phone's manual or call your carrier to learn how. Some older landline phones do not have this feature, in which case calling your carrier is your only option.

What to do if telemarketers keep calling after you register

If a telemarketer calls after you have registered with the National Do Not Call Registry, write down the date, time, and the number that called. You can also note the company name if they said it. Then go to donotcall.gov and file a complaint. Include all the information you collected. The Federal Trade Commission investigates complaints and can fine companies that violate the registry.

If the same number keeps calling, block it on your phone as well. Blocking and registering work together — the registry stops most calls from starting, and blocking handles the ones that slip through. If you are getting dozens of calls per day, your number may have been sold to multiple call centers. In that case, blocking individual numbers will take time, but it does work.

Do not call the number back or press buttons to "remove yourself" from their list, even if the message tells you to. Calling back confirms your number is active and often leads to more calls. The National Do Not Call Registry and your phone's block feature are your only reliable tools.

Why you still get calls from some organizations

The National Do Not Call Registry has legal exceptions. Political campaigns, nonprofits, charities, surveys, and companies you have done business with in the past 18 months can still call you even after you register. If you bought something from a store or signed up for a service, that company can call you about related products for 18 months, even if you registered.

To stop calls from these organizations, you have to ask them directly to remove you. When they call, ask to speak to someone who can remove your number from their list, or ask for the mailing address where you can send a removal request in writing. Some organizations honor these requests when ready; others take a few weeks.

If a charity or political organization keeps calling after you have asked them to stop, block the number on your phone. You cannot file a complaint with the FTC for these calls because they are legal, but you can still prevent them from reaching you.

Using third-party call-blocking apps

Apps like Nomorobo, RoboKiller, and Truecaller offer additional call blocking beyond what your phone provides. These apps use databases of known telemarketer and spam numbers to block calls before they reach you. Some are free; others charge a monthly fee. They work on both iPhone and Android.

Nomorobo is free and blocks calls based on a shared database of spam numbers reported by other users. RoboKiller uses artificial intelligence to identify spam calls and can even answer calls with a bot that wastes the telemarketer's time. Truecaller shows you the caller's name and business before the call rings through, which helps you decide whether to answer.

These apps are optional — the National Do Not Call Registry and your phone's built-in block feature handle most telemarketer calls on their own. But if you are still getting many unwanted calls after registering and blocking, a third-party app may reduce them further. read one, try it for a week, and uninstall it if it does not help.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for the Do Not Call Registry to work?

Telemarketers have 31 days from the date you register to stop calling. Some stop within a few days; others take the full month. If calls continue after 31 days, file a complaint at donotcall.gov with the date and number.

Can I register a business phone number on the Do Not Call Registry?

The National Do Not Call Registry is for personal phone numbers only. Business numbers are not covered. If you have a business line, ask your phone company about their commercial call-blocking options.

Will blocking a number stop text messages from that sender?

Blocking a number on your phone will block both calls and text messages from that number. If you want to block only text messages, check your phone's settings — some phones let you block messages separately from calls.

What if a telemarketer calls from a different number each time?

Some call centers use multiple numbers to avoid being blocked. Block each number as it calls, and file complaints at donotcall.gov for each one. You can also report the pattern to the FTC, which may investigate the company behind the calls.

Do I need to register again if I change phone numbers?

Yes. The Do Not Call Registry protects the specific phone number you register. If you get a new number, register that number separately at donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222.