Blocked Phone Number

Question

Blocked Phone Number

I have somehow blocked my doctor's phone number. I remember the option coming up and I accidentally touched the button. I can not find that again. I can not unblock the number. When he calls the phone does not ring but I have a notice in my recent file that tells me I have had a blocked call. There is no information about the caller. CAN ANYONE HELP. THIS IS DRIVING ME NUTS!

iPhone 3G

Thanks Jerry H

Alum. iMac 2.4, Mac OS X (10.5.1), 4Ghz RAM

Posted on Mar 18, 2009 9:40 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Mar 18, 2009 9:49 AM in response to Gerald Henderson

You did not block the number - there is no way to block numbers on the iPhone. The doctor has blocked his/her number from being visible (masking the caller ID information from the recipient of the call can be done by the service provider for all calls, or for a specific call by dialing *67 before making the call). Different phones display this as 'Unknown' or 'Blocked'.

The fact that your phone is not ringing is a separate issue. Although other phones have a feature to ignore calls from unknown/blocked numbers, the iPhone does not have that feature.

You might try resetting your iPhone. To reset the iPhone, press and hold the home and sleep/wake buttons until you see the Apple logo (ignore the slide to power off prompt).

Reply

Answer 2

Mar 18, 2009 10:32 AM in response to neuroanatomist

Thank you for your timely response. There is no doubt that I did something to block this number. I remember doing it, I just do not remember where that was, only that it was a reflexive action I really didn't want to make. That being said - I understand that a formal blocking procedure is not available on the iPhone. Everyone says so. I can not find one now. However, I did something, the end result of which is that that caller is blocked. I see a blocked call message on my screen. Since this is my physician's office, I see no reason they would have blocked the call from their end. They are trying to give me important information. I have reset my phone per your suggestion and when I can get in touch with my party I will ask them to call me again to see if this has solved the issue for me. If it does, I will post it here. I should have thought of a reset myself.

Thank you again.

Reply

Answer 3

Rothrock

Level 4

1,467 points

Mar 18, 2009 4:18 PM in response to Gerald Henderson

How do you know it is your doctor?

Anyways. Just like everybody says, there is no way to Block a caller from calling you. The blocked means that there is no caller ID information associated with the number. For example my sister has put blocking on her home phone so whenever she calls me it says, "Blocked." I can still answer, she can still leave messages, and so forth.

A lot of offices have multiple lines and the number you call in on will not necessarily be the line that they call out on. Perhaps to avoid people calling on lines that aren't for in-coming calls the lines are blocked? In that case it could be something that was specifically set up. Or it is possible that the phone company just set up a business switchboard by accident with those settings. In any event it is not at all uncommon to have businesses show a blocked number.

Reply

Answer 4

Mar 18, 2009 4:36 PM in response to Rothrock

Thank you very much. Your explanation makes more sense than anything I have seen yet. I will get in touch with that office in the morning and aske thm to check this out. Just one more glitch in the plan.

Jerry H

Reply

Answer 5

Mar 19, 2009 3:10 AM in response to Gerald Henderson

Rothrock is likely close to correct. Many offices of all types have one main phone number, but many lines (extensions). When you call in, they want the call to be on the main line. If a doctor in the office, or a nurse, for example, calls you, they don't want you calling that person back directly, they want you calling on the main number. So, other numbers are blocked.

It really does depend on the phone system they have set up. For example, in my building there are a over a thousand phones, each with a unique number ending in -4xxx or -5xxx, and each able to receive direct calls (e.g. 617-555-4675). But, all outgoing calls show they are coming from the same number - 617-555-4000 - no matter which line they come from. A different approach to the same situation, i.e. you can only call me directly if I give you the direct number.

Reply

Answer 6

Mar 19, 2009 7:45 AM in response to neuroanatomist

I checked with my doctor and sure enough - just as you both have suggested - there is a block on their end. I do appreciate the help.
Thank you all.

JH

Reply