Anonymous Call Blocking/Rejection Doesn't always work?

[rweastmanjr]

Call blocking ususally works for my Uverse phone but periodically "Private" calls will ring thru:

Chatting with AT&T Rep, here is what she said:  Not sure that I believe this, but who am I.

I have already verified the information Mr. Eastman and that seems to be coming from the caller himself. It goes to show that those person calling you with Private number are using special codes to get through to your line even though the Anonymous Call Blocking option is already turned on.
You:           Well how does that happen
am047g(April): However, we can reset the voice profile of your line to help with this.
am047g(April): Regarding the codes they are using, that we do not know.
am047g(April): Is it all right if we reset the voice profile?
You:           resetting the profile will stop it?
You:           Can't see how that is going to stop it if they are using a special software to bypass your technology
am047g(April): Not a hundred percent guarantee Mr. Eastman but most voice issues is resolved through this. Is it all right with you?
You:           sure, do i have to reconfigure everything then?
am047g(April): No, I'll have to do it on my end.*smiling*
You:           ok

Does anyone else have this issue?  AT&T sites indicates the following for the definition of this feature:

Anonymous Call Blocking provides the message, "The number you dialed will not accept your call", to those callers who have their Caller ID information marked as private, restricted, anonymous, unavailable, or blocked. This feature is included with your service at no extra charge.

According to the definition above a "Private" call should be blocked.

Message Edited by rweastmanjr on 09-09-2009 07:39 PM

[Asimas]

Good example this caller ID and number Allied Intrste +011 775 319-1506 is a scam number saying you owe money I blocked the original call

775 319-1506 now they have added +011 in front that goes around the blocked call I have set up. They have called my number and also my mothers you can find out the info on this number by doing a search on the internet they also use 1518 and 1502 DO NOT ANSWER.

[Zee_Kitty]

Yes, I'm having this issue too.  I called and talked to a very personable, apparently knowledgeable and friendly CSR who went through a list of questions and suggestions and I followed them.  For about a week, those private calls stopped but they started getting through again.  I didn't have this problem before Uverse when I had regular AT&T and privacy manager.  Privacy manager was great but now (sigh) I'm getting more of these anonymous calls myself.  I don't have an answer for you.  Just wanted to commiserate.

[banarb]

I am having the same problem, the friends I would like to call through only get a message that we are not taking calls from the number they called from, and give no information on how to unblock their phones.  But I also get calls from "unavailable". I have reported this several times, the last being last night with "live chat", they told me that the calls may be coming from out of the country and that  those calls could not be blocked.  Tonight when the "unavailable" call came in I answered, it turned out to be "Anerican Red Cross".  I don't think that was from out of the country, I could be wrong, but I don't think so.  I have gone through all the things that have been suggested (ie dialing *77# which says "Anonymous call blocking is o activated" and setting up my features on line) so far nothing has stopped the calls from coming in.   I too never had a problem with the regular AT&T "Privacy Manager", and their answer is that the regular AT&T does not go though the internet conection.  This problem wouldn't seem so bad if it was not put out there as part of the package.  But like Zee_Kitty I don't have an answer either, except I am going keep calling ATT until I get an answer. I guess if their service can be annoying I can be too. 

[Banzai]

Even domestic calls have this issue if the callerID shows a 1+ in front of the area code.  The interface we get does not store the extra 11th digit and so adding the base number XXX-XXX-XXXX does not block these calls. 

If the prior privacy manager worked, then they must have handled the extra digits.  Seems like an enhancement request to AT&T.

[oban1408]

Well... looks like this issue has been around for quite sometime... here are the results for my inquiry into the issue: 

System:          Welcome Mr. me.
System:          Connecting to server. Please wait...
System:          Connection with server established.
You:             Technical Support Topic: U-verse Voice
System:          se422q(Shennie) has joined this session!
System:          Connected with se422q(Shennie)
se422q(Shennie): Thank you for choosing AT&T, This is Shennie <se422q> of U-verse Support. To provide you with a VERY SATISFYING service today, may I please have your name and the phone number associated with the account?
You:             Hi Shennie, name is me, phone is my phone
se422q(Shennie): Good Afternoon Mr. Me, the phone number you gave would that be a good callback number in case I need to call for follow up?
You:             yes
se422q(Shennie): Thank you for the information. How are you Mr. Me and how can I make you a Very Satisfied Member today? *smile*
You:             I have anonymous call blocking turned on, but I am still receiving calls with a caller id of Private. why doesn't this feature work?
se422q(Shennie): I do apologize for the inconvenience. Let me help you on that.
se422q(Shennie): To activate your Anonymous Call Blocking , please dial *77 then # on your phone.
You:             I did that 2 days ago, and I still receive calls with a caller id of Private
se422q(Shennie): I see. We have a lot of reports from members that eventhough their anonymous call blocking is activated, they are still receiving calls from private numbers.
se422q(Shennie): I do apologize for this but the caller from that number is using a special pin or proxy that is why the call pushed through.
se422q(Shennie): AT&T Uverse is now aware of this and we are hoping for this issue to be resolved.
You:             oh... so it is a problem with the service... is there any time frame for when it will be fixed?
se422q(Shennie): I wish I know but there is no definite time when will this be resolved. *sad*
You:             can you tell me what the priority of fix is in relation to the other fix work... that at least would let me know it is in the queue to be worked on
You:             or, perhaps, you could give me a work-order number so I can reference it if I would like a progress update.
se422q(Shennie): Okay. Let me check this one.
se422q(Shennie): I am sorry but I cannot provide you a work order I just made a report. All members that are affected will be notified once there is a resolution.
System:          The session has ended!

The irony is... I got a phone call from a Private number and decided to take a survey so I let the chat session expire.

[bubbabuddy]

I said it over and over.  The message needs to give instruction on how to unblock the caller's number OR allow for a number like ZERO be pushed to unblock and allow call to go through.  Regular ATT phone service (not VOIP) has this option for people who subscribe to the option: Privacy Manager.  What's the point of activating Anonymous Call Block if you don't have these items.  99% of callers don't know how to unblock.

[bhammill]

I'm having this problem.  I contacted support via chat today and predictably they reset my voice user profile.  That doesn't work.  I'm still receiving the Anonymous calls that by definition should be rejected by the feature of Anonymous Call Blocking.

It has been 4 or 5 Months since this topic got touched here on the forum.  I would think it is a pretty simple thing to block numbers that don't have caller ID information even if the callers are transmitting special codes.

Also, wasn't there a law passed recently that makes it illegal to spoof caller ID information?

I'm ready to get angry over this.  One reason we switched to U-Verse is that we were told that on the old AT&T voice service, if the caller was on a different phone service provider they could not be blocked.  Sounded like a load of horse crap to me.  So does the U-verse problems.

Best Regards,

B in Raleigh NC.

[jhodge]

Same issue here. "Anonymous" calls are being blocked (if I call anonymous using *67), but the Private name w/ Unavailable as a phone number continues to show up. 

Called a CSR today and this is supposedly a known issue that was resolved and in testing as of 19-APR-2010 but no date when it will be live.

If it's fixed within the next month I'll keep the voice service. Things tend to move slower in larger companies. 

[MrTradewell]

Anonymous Call Blocking for U-verse Voice, Ya...Right!

Apparently, AT&T U-verse does not intend to fix this problem as this isJune 25, 2012, three years after the original post.  We continuously receive three to five anonymous calls every day and if we pick up, there is never anyone or even a computer that we can hear on the line.

[ShaunMN]

I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to post your comments and opinions related to this topic. This topic has been thoroughly discussed and will now be closed, as it is very old.