In response to the April 20 headline, “Do not call: Combating robocalls can be tricky, Nevada official says”: That is an understatement. I have tried a number of apps that supposedly block illegal/spam calls, and deleted every one of them.
Why? Because they blocked far more legitimate calls than junk calls. I had problems getting appointment reminders from my medical providers, calls from companies with whom I was working a problem, even my insurance company.
I called the company that published the app and asked why the published number of a major multiline insurance company would be blocked. Of note, this insurance company does not cold call people to drum up business; it calls only its customers and others with whom it has legitimate business reason for calling.
The answer? They had “lots” of complaints about the number. I terminated my subscription to the app on the spot.
I most certainly do not like robocalls, and I get my share, but an app is not the answer. It should be illegal to spoof a phone number absent application to the phone company — and even then, only with a good reason. For example, ensuring that all calls from a company show its main number, not the individual back line number that actually carries the call.