Tired of rude hang-ups only to get called right back? Instead of slamming down the phone, here’s a smart way to cut off unwanted sales pitches for good.
Why Hanging Up Backfires
When you abruptly end a cold call, most telemarketers simply dial you again—sometimes even from a different number. That quick “click” only signals persistence rather than defeat, leaving you trapped in a loop of unwanted interruptions.
New Rules and Hefty Fines
French law now mandates that all call-centers respect the Bloctel “do not call” list and stick to strict calling hours—weekdays between 10 AM–1 PM and 2 PM–8 PM. Companies face fines up to €375,000 if they contact listed numbers, call outside permitted times, or use hidden Caller ID.
Know the Prefixes to Block
Rather than hanging up, add these common cold-call prefixes to your phone’s block list:
- Metropolitan France: 0162, 0163, 0270, 0271, 0377, 0378, 0424, 0425, 0568, 0569, 0948, 0949
- Guadeloupe/Saint-Martin/Saint-Barthélemy: 09475
- Guyane: 09476
- Martinique: 09477
- Réunion/Mayotte: 09478, 09479
By filtering these out, you’ll stop most unsolicited pitches before they even ring.
A More Drastic Step: Bloctel Registration
For ultimate peace of mind, register your number on Bloctel’s official “do not call” database. Call-centers are legally required to scrub their lists against Bloctel before dialing—though real-world compliance varies.
App-Based Spam Blocking
If you’d rather skip government lists, try a community-driven app like Orange Telephone, which automatically flags and blocks known spam numbers. With regular updates from other users, your phone becomes a fortress against pesky sales calls.
Next time your phone rings, resist the urge to hang up—and start filtering instead.
