Do not disturb: How to stop annoying robocalls

CTV Vancouver: How to stop getting robocalls There has been a crackdown on robocalls recently, but many are still getting through. Fortunately, there are some things you can do.

You’re probably all too familiar with those irritating sales calls that come just as you’re sitting down to dinner. There has been a crackdown on robocalls recently, but many are still getting through. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to try and stop them.

First, you can register your cell or home phone or fax machine numbers on the CRTC’s Do Not Call Registry. You must re-register every six years and some brazen telemarketers may still contact you anyway.

"The problem is that enforcing the rules on unwanted marketing calls is tough. Some unethical companies go ahead and call you anyway, even if you are on the do not call registry," said Margot Gilman of Consumer Reports.

To help limit robocalls, hang up and don’t press any buttons. If you do, the auto-dialer registers that a person answered and may keep calling.

If you have caller ID on your phone, report the robocaller’s number to the CRTC’s Do Not Call list. They can be fined up to $15,000 per violation.

But be aware that charities and political candidates are still allowed to call, although it may be worth asking whether the charities will mail their requests rather than call you.

Unfortunately, many harrassing calls come from overseas and the companies use something called "call spoofing", a technology to disguise the actual number they're calling from. That makes it impossible to track them down.

Telus offers a service called "call reveal" on home phones that blocks unknown numbers or forces them to reveal their number before the call goes through. As well, several CTV viewers say they've had success with the Panasonic DECT 6.0 phone. It has a call block feature that apparently works well.