Im ready to display my sheer ignorance again about anything even vaguely technical -- this time its phones.

I presume the advanced call blocking uncorded phones you can get, screen and stop the unwanted calls youve set it for , so you dont even hear the ringing?

If you have a second phone elsewhere in the house , bog standard with no call blocking ability , does that mean youre going to get the unwanted call ringing anyway via that one?

I guess the first thing to establish is if the two phones are compatible or not. If not then I can't see how the second one would screen calls at all or even if the two would both work. We got the BT8500 a few years back and they are excellent at stopping unwanted calls, there are many similar nowadays. The only downside is that I don't get the chance to play along with the many "Microsoft engineers! I used to get.

Nice to know these blocking phones actually work thank you Salmon. What are the criteria to know if phones are compatible or not though? Youd have to know before you bought the second one. The more I think about it , the more Im imagining that the only blocking I could have with just one blocker phone and my second and third cheap non blocking ones, is the very limited blocking I could already get via the line provider such as BT , which would block any phone using that line? ( Ive got 3 phone points all with old basic phones. Maybe the alternative would be just to have one new one with three handsets.

Actually our phone contract is within a Sky package , only the line is a BT one , still could have the BT blocking stuff though , I presume ?

Hi Venice,this might help you to work it out.

http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/10838/~/can-i-use-a-different-type-of-bt-cordless-phone-with-my-existing-base%3F

You can register with Telephone Preference Service but I found that pretty useless .
https://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/index.html

My mum has these and they are great, she was so vulnerable, as she likes to chat with anyone lol.


The BT phones, if you have a remote handset then you would need to pair it with the base unit. I have seen you can purchase additional compatible phones, but its cheaper to buy what you really need.

The problem with not having a similar phone, could be down to functionality when using it. The base unit does the blocking, but i bet if you read way down in the small print that not just any digital handset will do.

Well worth the investment.

On my mums we also have changed the ring tone to indicate when the pain in the backside is calling lol that can be fun.

You can disable the call screening or add family n friends to it and then they don't have to go via the screening.

Its a great idea and BT have done a good job.

I think the only requirement is that your provider can enable caller ID it free with most but check. Without it I don't think it functions as it should.

Hope that helps.

Thanks salmon and Mark. Very helpful . Ill mull it all over and think through the best options for us .

Do check venice as there is an extra charge for us for this service, we are with Virgin.

I will thanks Casper , Im quite good at scrooging my pennies lol!

I've got the BT8500, 3 handsets, and don't get ANY nuisance calls at all. You can see when they've been trying in the 'Calls' list. Easy to use, big illuminated buttons. There are later models now but well worth the money for the freedom from hassle!

Do you have other phones in the house bri?