Request blocking Caller ID name, not just number

[usbears]

I would like to request a feature in Member Tools to block caller id names, not just numbers. I get many calls per day with the caller id OAKLAND CA, FREMONT CA, ALAMEDA CA, HAYWARD CA, HERCULES CA, BERKELEY CA, EL SOBRANTE CA, SUNNYVALE CA, etc. The associated phone numbers always change with the same caller ID number but they are all spam calls and are very annoying without any way to block these calls from Sonic by name. I have an old program on my mac called PhoneValet and can program it to hang up on the calls with these caller id names but my phone must ring at least once, which is still annoying since I work from home. Would be great if I could block a caller id name from the Sonic member tools. If I can block a number why not a name?

Thank you for your consideration in this request.

[loherj]

Thank you for reaching out regarding your request to add a feature.

We always appreciate hearing from our customers and constantly look for ways to improve the customer experience.

While this feature in its simplest form does not exist, you could fulfill what you are trying to do by completing the following steps.

1. Log in to https://members.sonic.net/
2. Click on the Voice tab on the left-hand side
3. Click your associated phone number
4. Once the CommPortal window has opened, click on Contacts
5. Click New Contact
6. Input the Call ID information you see on your phone for the spam caller (I would input the City Name as you detailed in your post in either the First/Last Name section or in the City and State Section of the Contact or both for maximum efficiency)
7. Save the Contact
8. Once the contact has been saved, click home in the CommPortal window
9. Once home, click on the Open Call Manager button
10. Click on the rejection list
11. Click Contacts and choose the contact you would like to add to your rejection list

Although a rather lengthy process, this should fulfill what you are trying to achieve until we consider whether it is feasible for us to add this feature.

[dyan3926]

I’m so glad that you asked this question because I am in the Bay Area and I’m having the exact same problem only the city names in the caller ID are, Martinez, Lafayette and Novato with a different number every time. I did what Jacob suggested and I think it’s working. At least until this person figures out how I’m blocking him and uses a NEW name and number, then I’m screwed.
Big thanks to Jacob at Sonic. The person I called at customer service for Sonic really didn’t know what to do other than anonymous call rejection or get a new phone number. This is way beyond anonymous call rejection. Spoofing needs to be illegal and it’s not.

[noslengnow]

Just wanted to let people know, in case they were trying Jacob's workaround now, that you can no longer add a contact that is not associated with a telephone number so the suggested method will no longer work to block based on caller ID name, unfortunately.

[loherj]

Just wanted to let people know, in case they were trying Jacob's workaround now, that you can no longer add a contact that is not associated with a telephone number so the suggested method will no longer work to block based on caller ID name, unfortunately.

Hello, and thank you for posting this. I confirmed what you relayed, and as of right now, this is not working. I am unsure if that is intentional or not, but I have opened up a request with our Network Operations team to determine if we can make any adjustments in this matter.

I will update the thread when I have more information regarding this.

[loherj]

As an update on this matter, I discussed this more in-depth with our Network Operations team, and my original method was simply a workaround for the system that just so happened to work.

However, as stated previously, to add a contact to the rejection list, that contact requires a telephone number. We opened a request with our phone switch vendor to see if the feature could be added to block incoming calls by caller ID only, but unfortunately, we are unable to do so at this time.

I understand that the main reason for this was due to spam callers constantly changing the number they are calling from but consistently having the same caller ID but until we are able to add this as an actual feature this method will no longer work. If I come up with a new workaround or any new features are added I will update this thread.