How to setup inbound and outbound call blocking

Call Blocking is the ability to stop calls being received from specific destinations or to stop the ability to make calls to particular destinations.

From this location, there are four available options.

1. Block Inbound Numbers
2. Block Outbound Numbers
3. View Blocked Inbound Numbers
4. View Blocked Outbound Numbers

How to setup Inbound Call Blocking

You can start by entering the inbound calling number or numbers to be blocked. Numbers can be input as follows;

• Single Number
• Multiple Numbers, separated by a comma
• Wildcard Numbers. To block a range of numbers starting with '09', enter '09*'. To block a range of numbers beginning with '0207', enter '0207*'.

Then select the associated telephone numbers. 

In this example, we are adding the multiple call blocks as follows. Any inbound calls that match these criteria will not be connected.

1. Single Number Block against number - 01234567890
   1. Any calls from this number will not be connected to any associated numbers.
2. Number range block against all numbers starting -'09'
   1. Any calls received from numbers beginning '09' will not be connected to any of the associated numbers.
3. Number range block against all numbers starting - '087' 
   1. Any calls received from numbers beginning '087' will not be connected to any of the associated numbers.

These numbers will not receive any calls from the list of defined blocks. However, once submitted, the call blocks will come into effect immediately. 

How to setup Outbound Call Blocking

You can start by entering the outbound or destination number or numbers that users within your organisation cannot call. Numbers can be input as follows;

• Single Number
• Multiple Numbers, separated by a comma
• Wildcard Numbers. To block a range of numbers starting with '09', enter '09*'. To block a range of numbers beginning with '0207', enter '0207*'.

In this example, we are adding the multiple call blocks as follows. Any attempts to make calls that match these criteria will not be connected.

1. Single Number Block against number - 01234567890 
   1. Any calls made to this number from any extension within your organisation associated with any call groups 'Default', 'Forward' or 'Test'  will not be connected.
2. Number range block against all numbers starting -'09' 
   1. Any calls made to all numbers starting with '09', from any extension within your organisation associated with any call groups 'Default', 'Forward' or 'Test'  will not be connected.
3. Number range block against all numbers starting - '087' 
   1. Any calls made to all numbers starting '087' from any extension within your organisation associated with any call groups 'Default', 'Forward' or 'Test'  will not be connected.

Once submitted, the call blocks will come into effect immediately. 

View, remove and edit inbound call blocking

Select the View Blocked Inbound Numbers tab from the menu options. A list of all defined inbound number blocks is listed. From this screen, you can remove the number block entirely using the 'Remove Number' button or edit the list of associated inbound numbers with which each block is associated. To do this, click the 'Blocked Number' in the first column. This will expand the list of 'Inbound Numbers'. To remove any of these, click on the 'x'.

View, remove and edit outbound call blocking

Select the View Blocked Outbound Numbers tab from the menu options. A list of all defined outbound number blocks is listed. From this screen, you can remove the number block entirely using the 'Remove Number' button or edit the list of associated outbound call groups with which each block is associated. To do this, click the 'Blocked Number' in the first column. This will expand the list of 'Outbound Call Groups'. To remove any of these, click on the 'x'.

Additional information

Call blocking is also a very effective way of stopping unexpected high phone bills and call fraud. We advise all customers to place Outbound Call blocks to high-value calling destinations, such as premium numbers. If your organisation enables international calling, restrict this by blocking unrequired destinations. You can find a list of all global dialling country codes here.