How to Stop Unwanted Calls Without Changing Your Cell Phone Number

1. Check to see if your cell phone has a 'Send Straight to Voice Mail' feature. Some newer phones have this built-in feature, which allows certain callers in your contact list (or address book) to be sent straight to voice mail. All cell phones send calls to voice mail when the device is turned off. This feature, however, lets you keep your phone on while designated callers go straight to voice mail -- without your phone ever ringing. That's right! Your phone never even rings when they call. (Pretty awesome, huh?) Check with your service provider to see if the feature is available -- if not, request it. The T-Mobile G1 Android (Google) phone does have it. We'll learn how to use the feature in Step 2. If your phone does not have this feature, skip to Step 3.
2. To use the 'Send Straight to Voice Mail' feature, go to your contacts list or address book. Select the contact you wish to send straight to voice mail. (If you don't have the caller's number put into your contacts list, you must first do so. Sometimes you'll have to wait until they call again, if you don't know the number -- or look through your call log to find the number. In any case, the caller's number must be entered in your contacts list.) After you select the contact, activate the 'Send Straight to Voice Mail' feature for that number. The T-Mobile G1 Android (Google) phone gives you the option to check a box for this -- you'll see a green check mark when it's selected. Now the contact will go straight to voice mail when they call you. You won't be bothered by the phone ringing when it's that caller. (Other callers will be able to ring your phone, as usual, if it's turned on.)
3. Now you're sending the unwanted callers straight to voice mail and they cannot ring your phone. Great! But what if your phone doesn't have this feature? And what if you don't want to listen to those voice mail messages? What if the unwanted caller is stressing you out with threatening rants ... or heavy breathing ... or whatever? Here's where you'll discover the beauty of YouMail. Go to www.youmail.com and set up a free account. YouMail is absolutely free, although you'll need to receive a text message for the activation code. Once your account is activated, you can set up a contacts list. After you've put the unwanted caller in your contacts list, click the ditchmail symbol (a red circle with the cross-out bar through it) to ditch the caller. Now that caller will not be able to leave you voice mail. No more messages from them! If you've completed Steps 2 and 3, you've achieved what I call the 'Double Ditch' -- the phone never rings when they call and they can never again leave a message (from that number). You've effectively banished the unwanted caller from your life! If you've only completed Step 3, you will still hear the phone ring but at least they will not be able to leave you a message.