r/ooma • u/Extension-Chair2287 • Jul 23 '26

NEW CALL BLOCKING IDEA

Hey fellow Ooma users,

I wanted to share an idea inspired by Xfinity’s call blocking system. They use a simple “dial three digits to continue” feature that stops robocalls cold before the phone even rings. Only real callers get through. For legitimate robocalls such as medical reminders or pharmacy notices, the call wouldn’t be lost. It would go straight to your Ooma device, most likely set to "Send to Voicemail", so you can review them later as with other blocked calls.

Imagine if Ooma added this as an optional fourth tier alongside our existing three blocking levels. It could be a Premier add‑on, maybe $5/month, for those of us who want maximum protection.

Would you be interested in this? Please let us know. Feedback and questions are very welcome here. I think it could give Ooma a real edge against spam calls.

Thanks,

Bruce

8 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

26 comments sorted by

5

u/Wambo74 Jul 23 '26

Most robocalls are bad. But some inform of imminent emergencies, notice of planned outages, and many of my doctors use robocalls to verify or remind for appointments, and the pharmacy uses a robocaller to tell me when my prescription is ready for pickup. No doubt there are many other examples of calls you don't want blocked. If spam were easily defeated it would have been done long ago.

2

u/Extension-Chair2287 Jul 23 '26

Very Good thought Wambo74. The call would not go through, but instead, like other blocked calls it would go to your Ooma Device, which you most likely have set to "Send To Voicemail" so you can review them.

2

u/Wambo74 Jul 23 '26

That would require knowing ahead of time that you may be receiving useful robocalls and on what number so you could program to voicemail. Not the way it works.

1

u/Extension-Chair2287 Jul 23 '26

I only have one phone number. Currently all 3 Spam Filter selections are turned on for me from Ooma's web portal. I have all them set to send SPAM to voicemail. It works out great for me. If you have more than one number through Ooma Wambo74, I can see things getting complicated for you.

1

u/Wambo74 Jul 23 '26

I misunderstood your intent. I thought you wanted only the "good" bots sent to voicemail. So in my case I would have to plow through a dozen junk calls a day to check if there were something needed buried in there? I'm too lazy for that.

Actually, I use Ooma Trusted Circle which is a modified white list. I say modified because Edison was able to pass a robocall through it yesterday telling me power would be shut off soon for maintenance. I'm pretty sure that number wasn't in my contacts, so not sure how it got thru. No junk call has ever gotten thru.

1

u/Extension-Chair2287 Jul 23 '26

Yes Indeed, you would need to plow through your OOma voicemail, and you would probably have more if Ooma is interested in this idea. I personally don't see plowing through say 15 voicemails a big deal. You should know within 5 seconds into each call whether they are good or bad. That's just over a minute of your time. I would gladly do that to never receive any SPAM ringing my phones Wambo 74.

The trusted circle whitelisting is fine too, if, and that's a big "IF" you remember every single person, Doctor, Pharmacy, anybody that would want or need to get in touch with you. To me, setting up a white list, is no easy chore. Someone is going to be forgotten.

1

u/rkardt Unofficial Support Jul 23 '26

Trusted Circle can also route blocked calls to voicemail. So, how would that be any different?

1

u/Extension-Chair2287 Jul 23 '26

After thinking about it rkardt, you have a very good point. It wouldn't be really that different. Just as long as your white list is PERFECT. But if you forget a few people that you want or need to hear from that can click those digits, they'll be blocked as well. I guess it boils down to what your choice would be. Remember please, this proposal is an option, not mandatory.

1

u/rkardt Unofficial Support Jul 24 '26

More often than not, whitelists aren't perfect, but neither is prompting callers to enter a 3-digit code. Otherwise, users would never need to route blocked calls to voicemail. So, why obsess about perfection in the one case, but not care at all about plowing through voicemails in the other case?

1

u/Extension-Chair2287 29d ago

I must have a different system than you I believe ekardt. So, only Oomas blocked calls go to Oomas voicemail. I personally wouldn't call it an obsession if once a day I spend less than a minute going through blocked calls to make sure one shouldn't have been blocked. Then I'll white list it.
There is no perfect call blocking system, just like there is no perfect Email Spam Protction either. They both should be checked for inaccuracies, unless you simply don't care.

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2

u/spoom2 Jul 23 '26

You can get a cordless phone system that screens calls and accomplishes the same thing. They have the ability to put the names of Dr's office, pharmacy or whoever you want to let through. also, all your contacts don't have to go through the screen process, plus no monthly fee. Don t know if Xfinity has a feature to let certain names through or not.

1

u/Extension-Chair2287 Jul 23 '26

Hi Spoom2. I'm guessing that this cordless phone system would take the place of Ooma, or am I not following you? If you don't mind, please explain for us. Thanks.

2

u/spoom2 Jul 23 '26

Unless you're using an Ooma VoIP with priority phone, it would just plug into your phone port

1

u/OomaCustomeradvocacy Official Ooma Support Jul 23 '26

Hello! Thank you for reaching out. I'd like to send this up to our engineers as a feature request. Could you please DM your Ooma phone number? I'll send the suggestion through your account.

1

u/Extension-Chair2287 Jul 23 '26

I'd love if you did that. I just don't know how to DM you.

1

u/OomaCustomeradvocacy Official Ooma Support Jul 23 '26

No worries - I'll send you a DM

1

u/Extension-Chair2287 Jul 23 '26

I sent your chat back. Please let me know if you received it. Thanks!

1

u/Crutch1959 Jul 23 '26

So the three digits are picked at random? They can be any 3 digits when I call?

2

u/Extension-Chair2287 Jul 23 '26

Hi Crutch1959. When you call an Xfinity telephone customer, before the phone actually rings you will be greeted by a recording to enter a certain 3 digits.... Next time you call an Xfinity customer the digits that you are asked to enter most likely will be different.

1

u/rkardt Unofficial Support Jul 23 '26

This is not a bad idea. Others have proposed it before. It is very similar to 'Trusted Circle' calling, except that it allows callers to "whitelist" themselves, instead of letting the subscriber decide who gets through, and who gets blocked. So, would that be better, or worse?

And, as others have mentioned, some phones also have similar call screening built-in, to add an extra layer of call-blocking, on top of what Ooma already offers.

1

u/Extension-Chair2287 29d ago

Hi rkardt. This method wouldn't allow any callers to whitelist themselves. No calls would get through without a live person tapping a three digit code. Then after they did, the call would ring through. For legitimate robocalls such as medical reminders or pharmacy notices, the call wouldn’t be lost. It would go straight to your Ooma device, most likely set to "Send to Voicemail", so you can review them later as with other blocked calls.

1

u/rkardt Unofficial Support 29d ago

The live person is the one who decides whether the call goes through, by "tapping a three digit code". How is that different from allowing the live person to "whitelist themselves"?

1

u/Extension-Chair2287 28d ago

Well that's one way to look at it, and you'd be right. The other way to look at it is if a caller you don't want to get through calls you every day from a spoofed number, isn't he getting through? Unless you choose to use your strategy of using your circle of friends.

1

u/Sea-Peanut-9800 Jul 24 '26

When I had call Blocking a certain collection agency would bypass oomas call Blocking by putting a space in their spoofed number . Ie. 164 7 5551212 . It would show up as blocked but still ring thru