New from Koodo: Call Control (block robocalls)

May 16th, 2020 6:57 pm

#1

pjw918 [OP]: Deal Addict; Feb 28, 2012; 1200 posts; 2106 upvotes; Alberta

May 16th, 2020 6:57 pm

New from Koodo: Call Control (block robocalls)

Free, optional service.

Call Control helps reduce unwanted calls by prompting incoming callers to enter a randomly-generated number (0-9), which the caller must enter correctly before the call can be connected. Callers with no response (e.g. robo-dialers) or an incorrect response won’t be able to complete the call and will hear a standard Call Control message instead.

This feature also lets you manage preferences and maintain lists of Authorized and Blocked Callers.

Call Control FAQ

That'll cut down on the spam calls.
You can whitelist your contacts.
You can maintain a block list.

Set it up under Self Serve / Mobile Services.

Telus has Call Control too.

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May 16th, 2020 8:26 pm

#2

Dave98: Deal Fanatic; Sep 10, 2005; 5004 posts; 2432 upvotes; GTA

May 16th, 2020 8:26 pm

Interesting. Thanks for the heads up. Hopefully it doesn't cause much of an issue with legitimate private number calls though. I guess that'll be situational. I'll give it a try.

I just turned it on and tested it on myself. You hear a message saying "This number has Call Control, please press 3".

I guess I'll keep it enabled for now and see how it goes

+1

May 16th, 2020 8:48 pm

#3

Webhead: Deal Fanatic; Sep 7, 2004; 6789 posts; 3187 upvotes; West GTEH!

May 16th, 2020 8:48 pm

Thanks for letting us know this feature is now available.

+1

May 16th, 2020 9:15 pm

#4

ji2o0k: Deal Expert; Oct 28, 2004; 22590 posts; 3870 upvotes; Toronto

May 16th, 2020 9:15 pm

Wow, pretty cool!!

I'm on Telus and wifey is on Koodo....this will be handy....

Anyone know the #limit on the whitelist?

FS: Nothing at the moment
Heatware: 63-0-0

May 16th, 2020 9:22 pm

#5

Dave98: Deal Fanatic; Sep 10, 2005; 5004 posts; 2432 upvotes; GTA

May 16th, 2020 9:22 pm

ji2o0k wrote: ↑ Wow, pretty cool!!

I'm on Telus and wifey is on Koodo....this will be handy....

Anyone know the #limit on the whitelist?

25 numbers each for blocklist and whitelist. Doesn't seem like much. But apparently numbers that answer correctly aren't prompted again if they're regular callers

So far, the only robo-call I can think of that would be legitimate is the Costco pharmacy. I usually get notification calls for prescriptions that are ready. So that's a heads up for some who need that number whitelisted too.

+2

May 16th, 2020 9:44 pm

#6

coriolis: Deal Expert; May 22, 2005; 20448 posts; 5882 upvotes; GTA

May 16th, 2020 9:44 pm

Nice, mixed with Google's Call Screening, I think robocalls are now dead.

May 17th, 2020 1:03 am

#7

Pingu99: Member; Nov 16, 2014; 202 posts; 83 upvotes; Ladysmith, BC

May 17th, 2020 1:03 am

Can't find it for Prepaid.

May 17th, 2020 7:22 am

#8

frugalnotchintzy: Newbie; Mar 6, 2017; 36 posts; 6 upvotes

May 17th, 2020 7:22 am

Dave98 wrote: ↑ So far, the only robo-call I can think of that would be legitimate is the Costco pharmacy.

Koodo Callback?

May 17th, 2020 11:49 am

#9

CanadianSpruce: Deal Addict; Feb 17, 2017; 1266 posts; 1095 upvotes; Calgary

May 17th, 2020 11:49 am

Dave98 wrote: ↑ So far, the only robo-call I can think of that would be legitimate is the Costco pharmacy. I usually get notification calls for prescriptions that are ready. So that's a heads up for some who need that number whitelisted too.

Some banks will do an automated call to verify transactions are legitimate (RBC comes to mind). I have an overseas bank account that will also call me when setting up a new payment to a new payee online.

+1

May 17th, 2020 3:29 pm

#10

MastaOogway: Deal Addict; Nov 24, 2016; 1629 posts; 1693 upvotes

May 17th, 2020 3:29 pm

coriolis wrote: ↑ Nice, mixed with Google's Call Screening, I think robocalls are now dead.

i can see this call control being bypassed really easily eventually. Hey at least they are trying.

May 18th, 2020 6:00 am

#11

oicthat2013: Deal Addict; May 2, 2013; 1959 posts; 3944 upvotes; Bloor-Yonge

May 18th, 2020 6:00 am

senior citizens will benefit from this. it's these people who are easily duped by robocalls spoofing and lose their savings to these scammers

+2

May 20th, 2020 4:24 pm

#12

chillychin: Deal Addict; Nov 23, 2010; 1156 posts; 471 upvotes; Toronto

May 20th, 2020 4:24 pm

Was anyone actually able to activate this?

When I log into my account and click on "Start using call control" the page just refreshes and does nothing -_-

May 20th, 2020 4:52 pm

#13

Dave98: Deal Fanatic; Sep 10, 2005; 5004 posts; 2432 upvotes; GTA

May 20th, 2020 4:52 pm

chillychin wrote: ↑ Was anyone actually able to activate this?

When I log into my account and click on "Start using call control" the page just refreshes and does nothing -_-

Keep trying I guess. Koodo/Public Mobiles sites have always been garbage.

I have it activated and it seems to work okay so far. I had it block a robocall earlier. The status on the site will say "Failed screening"

May 20th, 2020 8:32 pm

#14

chillychin: Deal Addict; Nov 23, 2010; 1156 posts; 471 upvotes; Toronto

May 20th, 2020 8:32 pm

I log in

Go to Self Serve -> Mobile services -> Scroll down to Call control "Manage"

I see this screen

I click on "Start Call Control"

Screen refreshes and I see the exact same thing - No toggle or anything

For the past 5 years I have had countless collections agencies calling me to look for a "Shyvonne Lawrence", I get left voice mails, texts calls etc.

Usually I block the number, then they started leaving voice mails.

A few times I called them back and told them there is no Shyvonne Lawrence here - They ask how long have I had this number, and I said since 1999 - So Im pretty sure its not linked to anyone else.

I told them if you dont believe there is no Shyvonne Lawrence here, can you please just send her a letter, send her file to the CRA or do whatever needs to be done to the full extent just stop calling me.

A few times it stops for a while, then some other collections agency starts calling up again - I would LOVE to have them stop calling me

May 20th, 2020 10:49 pm

#15

xxgg: Deal Addict; Nov 10, 2002; 2042 posts; 116 upvotes; Toronto

May 20th, 2020 10:49 pm

Does the web interface have a log of blocked calls?

I personally love Google Screen Calling. What is funny is Spam call blocker built in to Google Pixel Phone. When I called my own number using Google Hangout Dialer or dialer from Gmail, Google Pixel Spam call blocker will block it. haha

HEATWARE

May 20th, 2020 10:52 pm

#16

xxgg: Deal Addict; Nov 10, 2002; 2042 posts; 116 upvotes; Toronto

May 20th, 2020 10:52 pm

chillychin wrote: ↑ I log in

Go to Self Serve -> Mobile services -> Scroll down to Call control "Manage"

I see this screen

call control.jpg

I click on "Start Call Control"

Screen refreshes and I see the exact same thing - No toggle or anything

For the past 5 years I have had countless collections agencies calling me to look for a "Shyvonne Lawrence", I get left voice mails, texts calls etc.

Usually I block the number, then they started leaving voice mails.

A few times I called them back and told them there is no Shyvonne Lawrence here - They ask how long have I had this number, and I said since 1999 - So Im pretty sure its not linked to anyone else.

I told them if you dont believe there is no Shyvonne Lawrence here, can you please just send her a letter, send her file to the CRA or do whatever needs to be done to the full extent just stop calling me.

A few times it stops for a while, then some other collections agency starts calling up again - I would LOVE to have them stop calling me

Are you still receiving calls from collection agency(s) ?

You need to report every single one of them to BBB. Every single one.

HEATWARE

May 20th, 2020 11:47 pm

#17

Dave98: Deal Fanatic; Sep 10, 2005; 5004 posts; 2432 upvotes; GTA

May 20th, 2020 11:47 pm

chillychin wrote: ↑I log in

Go to Self Serve -> Mobile services -> Scroll down to Call control "Manage"

I see this screen

call control.jpg
I click on "Start Call Control"

Screen refreshes and I see the exact same thing - No toggle or anything

Try a different browser or login on your phone to see if it makes a difference.

xxgg wrote: ↑Does the web interface have a log of blocked calls?

Yes. Although it seems buggy. From my experience so far, calls that come through will be listed twice. One will say "Authorized" but then it will also come up a second time and say "Blocked" for whatever reason.

A robo call that doesn't get through will say "Failed screening"

May 21st, 2020 8:35 pm

#18

chillychin: Deal Addict; Nov 23, 2010; 1156 posts; 471 upvotes; Toronto

May 21st, 2020 8:35 pm

xxgg wrote: ↑ Are you still receiving calls from collection agency(s) ?

You need to report every single one of them to BBB. Every single one.

Good lord yes I still get calls from collection agencies

Initially I told them nicely theres no one here called Shyvonne Lawrence. Fast forward 5 years - YES 5 years I STILL get calls from them

I just tell them theres no one here by that name, stop calling me - If you want, put a strike against Shyvonne or whatever and do whatever you need to do to the fullest!

It stops for a bit then starts right back up, I once asked them why do they still call when I told them repeatedly theres no one here by that name.

Apparently different collection agencies get the job to collect, so the record just keeps getting passed around forever............no idea how I can get off this stupid list.

All because some idiot isnt paying their bills.

May 21st, 2020 8:36 pm

#19

chillychin: Deal Addict; Nov 23, 2010; 1156 posts; 471 upvotes; Toronto

May 21st, 2020 8:36 pm

Dave98 wrote: ↑ Try a different browser or login on your phone to see if it makes a difference.

Yes. Although it seems buggy. From my experience so far, calls that come through will be listed twice. One will say "Authorized" but then it will also come up a second time and say "Blocked" for whatever reason.

A robo call that doesn't get through will say "Failed screening"

I tried on Chrome, Firefox, MS Edge, Samsung Browser and Dolphin browser (last two on my phone) - None work, the screen just refreshes

Also tried to contact koodo, but of course they are experiencing higher then normal call volumes!

May 29th, 2020 2:02 pm

#20

TruBrush: Deal Addict; Aug 15, 2013; 1546 posts; 330 upvotes; Toronto

May 29th, 2020 2:02 pm

Missed today's mattress delivery because of this feature, the driver called twice and didn't understand it. I'm turning it off and never using again, the Truecaller app solution is better imo.