Caller ID displays the phone numbers of in-coming calls. There are times when a person may want to prevent his/her phone number from appearing on the recipient’s Caller ID. To temporarily prevent your phone number from showing up on a caller ID, use the following directions:

1. Dial *67.
2. Immediately after dialing *67, dial the complete 10 digit phone number.

This sends the Caller ID selective blocking command to the telephone service provider. It is a free service. This will only work if you are calling private and business numbers. Emergency services or toll free numbers will have access to Automated Number Identification (ANI) and will ignore the Caller ID selective call blocking request because they need your telephone information.

To permanently prevent your number from being displayed on Caller ID when you make calls, you will need to:

1. Call your phone company and ask them to place Caller ID block service on your number.
2. Make your calls as usual.

This will make every call you make show up as a “restricted call” on the recipients’ Caller ID. The service will not block the phone number or additional information from emergency services or toll free numbers due to ANI. This service is usually free but phone companies are allowed to charge for the service depending on their service agreement.

Removing the permanent block on a call by call basis requires you to go through the following process:
1. Dial *82.
2. Input the 10 digit number after dialing *82.

Once the process has been followed, your phone number is displayed on the recipient’s Caller ID for the current phone call. The process has to be repeated every time you need your number to be displayed on the recipient’s Caller ID. You have to call your phone company and request that they permanently remove the Caller ID block if you no longer want “restricted call” to be displayed on the recipient’s Caller ID when you make a call.

You may need to test the functionality of the vertical star codes by calling a secondary phone (such as a cell phone), to check whether the Caller ID block/unblock commands are working.

If it is necessary for you to make an anonymous call a toll free number, use a pay phone. Toll free numbers can be accessed free of charge through any phone, even pay phones.