iPhone 13 Pro Max auto-suggestions interfering with number selection

When I receive a call asking me to select my choice (ie 1,2,3 etc) and I select 1, my phone starts

showing me my contacts starting with ‘A’. The calling computer tells me my selection is invalid. How do I turn off the auto suggestions? I have an iPhone 13 Pro Max software version 18.1.1. This just started and I cannot even refill my medicines.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]