My Experience
I downloaded the Call Filter app and used the free plan it provides but Verizon can choose to automatically sign you up for the Plus version and charge you $2.99 a month. I didn’t realize this until I noticed my bill was getting a few dollars higher and higher each month and I hadn’t ordered or purchased anything so I done some digging on My Verizon App and I found what the charges were and that Verizon could enroll you in it themselves without even verifying or confirming it with you before hand and was VERY upset!! I then figured out how to take off the Call Filter Plus from my bill and did so but more then likely will not get my 2.99 back for each month they charged without my permission, unfortunately. And it being Easter Sunday, plus with Covid-19 accommodations I can not get in touch with anyone from Verizon about getting a refund if possible until 7am tomorrow morning Monday, April 12th 2020. So my advice would be to not download this app at all unless you want the “Plus” Version because they will automatically sign you up for it anyways and you won’t know until you realize you bill is increasing monthly without any changes you have made yourself.
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Don’t ever download this app
OMGGGG!!!!!!!!! I really can’t with this app. I downloaded it thinking Yayy it will help me
Get rid of all the spam callers and etc. However, that wasn’t the case, it was blocking calls from people from contacts that I have frequent phone conversations with... people were telling me they can’t reach me... since I didn’t receive any calls I was so surprised to hear that they were calling me and automatically defaulted to VM... I had to troubleshoot this for a good second. I deleted the app after deactivating the service but Problem was still persisting even though I deactivated and deleted the app. I did an another research and found out that this is the sketchiest app ever because apparently they still have access to your phone after all that so you have to go in your iCloud storage management to stop them accessing my phone. So I did that. Now it is functioning perfectly.
Get rid of all the spam callers and etc. However, that wasn’t the case, it was blocking calls from people from contacts that I have frequent phone conversations with... people were telling me they can’t reach me... since I didn’t receive any calls I was so surprised to hear that they were calling me and automatically defaulted to VM... I had to troubleshoot this for a good second. I deleted the app after deactivating the service but Problem was still persisting even though I deactivated and deleted the app. I did an another research and found out that this is the sketchiest app ever because apparently they still have access to your phone after all that so you have to go in your iCloud storage management to stop them accessing my phone. So I did that. Now it is functioning perfectly.
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Spam = $$$ for Verizon
I agree with other reviewers who are concerned that Verizon has little incentive to stop the spam calls, because they are making money off the problem. I like Verizon, but I’m very concerned about these awful calls - my social security number “has been suspended” or I am in danger of being arrested because of some fraud in my name - these guys are frightening and the company that I have used - for more than a decade I think - ought to be doing something about it that isn’t a conflict of interest. The more spam calls you receive, the more likely you will be to pay them $3 or $8 per month to try & stop the calls. I pay an obscene amount of money as it is. People in other countries do not pay $100 per month for cell service, check it out. But I digress.
Verizon, please address this issue in a way that doesn’t incentivize you to help the spammers. I am still your loyal customer because I feel that the other providers will have the same problematic issues and not as good a network as yours.
Verizon, please address this issue in a way that doesn’t incentivize you to help the spammers. I am still your loyal customer because I feel that the other providers will have the same problematic issues and not as good a network as yours.
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Good idea, but ineffective. Verizon should do more!
I’ve had Verizon Call Filter for about one year. For me it’s not only in effective in reducing the number of bad calls I must see, but the reporting process is a waste of my time.
Smart scammers/fraudsters use special software to display phone numbers that their computer selects at random for their calls. That means that it will do no good to report or block the number for most of these calls.
Unless Verizon develops a capability to detect phony caller IDs, Call Filter will never work.
To inhibit the less sophisticated scammers who use a non-random number over and over again, I’d recommend allowing the user to select a total and permanent block so that that number never shows up on missed calls or voicemail unless the user decides to do so.
Call Filter is a noble idea, but it hasn’t reduced the burden of the calls for me. In fact, after going thru the reporting process for each call, I’ve spent more time than I spent with my old method:
If I don’t know/recognize who the call is from, I don’t answer. If there is a voicemail (which there usually is not), I may decide to listen just in case.
In my experience, legitimate callers usually leave a message.
Bottom line: Verizon’s Call Filter is a waste of my money. I’ve decided to cancel and wait for a better remedy.
Smart scammers/fraudsters use special software to display phone numbers that their computer selects at random for their calls. That means that it will do no good to report or block the number for most of these calls.
Unless Verizon develops a capability to detect phony caller IDs, Call Filter will never work.
To inhibit the less sophisticated scammers who use a non-random number over and over again, I’d recommend allowing the user to select a total and permanent block so that that number never shows up on missed calls or voicemail unless the user decides to do so.
Call Filter is a noble idea, but it hasn’t reduced the burden of the calls for me. In fact, after going thru the reporting process for each call, I’ve spent more time than I spent with my old method:
If I don’t know/recognize who the call is from, I don’t answer. If there is a voicemail (which there usually is not), I may decide to listen just in case.
In my experience, legitimate callers usually leave a message.
Bottom line: Verizon’s Call Filter is a waste of my money. I’ve decided to cancel and wait for a better remedy.
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Doesn’t block any spam calls even when set to
Unfortunately this app / service doesn’t seem to work at all. About the only thing it does is at least identify calls that may be spam calls (comes up as “potential spam”) but doesn’t block those call even though it’s set to block all spam calls, even the potential spam calls are set to be blocked in the app settings. There have also been several times when the same number has called multiple times (was clearly a robo caller) I marked it as a spam call in the app, and calls from the same number still got through. In addition... Calls from numbers that are clearly spoofed numbers also get through. It’s disappointing because when I was with T-Mobile, I had their anti-spam app / service and it was much better and was a lot more effective. It did a lot better at identifying (and blocking) most spam calls and spoofed numbers. I’m going to delete this app off my phone and unsubscribe from the call filter service. Even with the paid version of the app, I still get at least 5 calls a day that are identified as spam calls, in addition to other calls from spoofed numbers.
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Getting Better Over Time ... with all our input and help...
IMHO ... I think this is the possible beginning of a change in the SPAM War...
Please know that if you block a Verizon call on an IOS iPhone - those blocked numbers will not ring through - but still will go to voice mail - where they can leave a voicemail AND if they do those Blocked Number Voicemails WILL NOT ALSO SHOW UP ON YOUR IPHONE’s Visual VoiceMail on your phone!!!
To use Verizon’s SPAM Filter EFFECTIVELY esp with iPhone (not sure if it’s the same for Androids) UNBLOCK ALL NUMBER’s on your iPhone! ... and let the call Filter Do It’s Job.
The more of us who use it the smarter it becomes... More and more often - on calls that the Filter knows actually to be SPAM - the Filter is self-blocking those out - they never ring through - but you still get a memo of what number and when that number’s call was blocked.
Hopefully in the future, as the Filter sees more and more quick hang ups from all of us... the system will backtrack the VOIP data to its originator and start monitoring z AZ and slamming shut each of the numbers it’s temporarily using to SPAM us.
If say even 20% of all of Verizon accounts have this in app’s feedback to our responses to calls ... it should put a major dent in yet a larger number of the SPAM we’re all receiving.
Please know that if you block a Verizon call on an IOS iPhone - those blocked numbers will not ring through - but still will go to voice mail - where they can leave a voicemail AND if they do those Blocked Number Voicemails WILL NOT ALSO SHOW UP ON YOUR IPHONE’s Visual VoiceMail on your phone!!!
To use Verizon’s SPAM Filter EFFECTIVELY esp with iPhone (not sure if it’s the same for Androids) UNBLOCK ALL NUMBER’s on your iPhone! ... and let the call Filter Do It’s Job.
The more of us who use it the smarter it becomes... More and more often - on calls that the Filter knows actually to be SPAM - the Filter is self-blocking those out - they never ring through - but you still get a memo of what number and when that number’s call was blocked.
Hopefully in the future, as the Filter sees more and more quick hang ups from all of us... the system will backtrack the VOIP data to its originator and start monitoring z AZ and slamming shut each of the numbers it’s temporarily using to SPAM us.
If say even 20% of all of Verizon accounts have this in app’s feedback to our responses to calls ... it should put a major dent in yet a larger number of the SPAM we’re all receiving.
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Not sure it does anything
Update #2: It would be really nice to have Verizon address directly the question of why so many calls are labeled robocall, potential spam call, etc. but they still ring through? This has been asked in numerous reviews and Verizon still has never given an answer that I’ve seen other than some generic nonsense.
Update: After using this for several months, I’ve probably only seen maybe two calls blocked. Since virtually all spam calls nowadays appear to be spoofed, I don’t think reporting a number really does anything. Sometimes the scammers even seem to be spoofing legitimate numbers. Until Verizon has a way to deal with spoofed numbers, I don’t really see a way to effectively block spam calls.
I’m not sure this app does anything. I can’t say I’ve seen anything blocked. It has identified some calls as “potential spam.” However, even though I have the app set to block all spam, including potential spam, these calls still merrily come through and are not sent to VM. Verizon has such a good network. It’s kind of embarrassing they don’t have a more effective call blocker app. I won’t even talk about Verizon charging $3 per month for this app.
Update: After using this for several months, I’ve probably only seen maybe two calls blocked. Since virtually all spam calls nowadays appear to be spoofed, I don’t think reporting a number really does anything. Sometimes the scammers even seem to be spoofing legitimate numbers. Until Verizon has a way to deal with spoofed numbers, I don’t really see a way to effectively block spam calls.
I’m not sure this app does anything. I can’t say I’ve seen anything blocked. It has identified some calls as “potential spam.” However, even though I have the app set to block all spam, including potential spam, these calls still merrily come through and are not sent to VM. Verizon has such a good network. It’s kind of embarrassing they don’t have a more effective call blocker app. I won’t even talk about Verizon charging $3 per month for this app.
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More calls since downloading ap.
I wish I could say this AP does all I expected from the description, but it sadly does not seem to work that way. I don’t see any decrease in calls! Rather since installing the ap I am averaging 6 calls or more a day where prior to using the filter they were sporadic and maybe 2 a day in cycles. Now it’s every day all day long. I still have to manually block the calls and there does not seem to be any more calls identified with who is calling. I’m spending more time manually blocking calls and researching where they are coming from. Plus since we added the AP we are getting text messages without identifying numbers. They are for a weight loss product in the header. There is a web address in the body of the text with a message saying Do you need to loose 52 lbs? And it is spelled loose not lose. Obviously a scam or some fraudulent situation. I have spent so much time filing complaints with the FTC since installing the AP and I paid the 2.99 for Premium. Now I just want it to stop even more! I’d give a zero star if possible!
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All calls in or out blocked
I started receiving calls from my own phone number (spoofing) so I called Verizon and they suggested call filter turned on on their end which was free then also suggested I get the app for additional features. So I did both. App installed and I set it up and subscribed for an additional 2.99 a month. Everything worked fine until about an hour ago. All of a sudden I couldn’t make calls or receive calls. I’d get dead air then call failed error or I would get all circuits are busy now message. On incoming calls I couldn’t hear anything and the caller obviously couldn’t hear me. First I reset all settings. Then restarted phone. Nothing. Next I chatted with tec support via the Verizon app. Ran test on my line said it was fine. So next I went into my Verizon app and canceled the call filter app subscription. Then went into settings/phone and turned off call filter. Uninstalled app, then ran magic cleaner. Went in and reset settings. Rebooted phone. Still nothing. Around 15 to 20 minutes later i received a phone call then checked if I could also make calls again. It worked. Sorry Verizon I love you but won’t be installing or using your call filter app again.
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Response from developer
Thank you for you feedback. We're sorry that you are having trouble with your Call Filter app. Please email us your phone number that you have signed up for Call Filter to callfilter@verizonwireless.com We can check to make sure you are set up correctly.
Barely useful
Very disappointed in the poor performance of the free app. Been using the FREE YouMail that is still catching far more than this app. Basically too many slip through that ultimately end up going to YouMail. Also saw they put out an update which never showed up in my App Store updates listing. Just happened to manually find it by accident. For a company as big as Verizon that generally charges the most for mobile service, it extremely disappointing to find them nickel and diming their customers in order to get premium call blocking which in all likelihood is less effective than free third party solutions. Anyone reading this, YouMail is free - ya, they say their service is providing the voice mail service on legit calls as a bit of advertising and there are small ads at the bottom of the app, but it works well, allows for custom VM announcements, sends push notifications and/or emails, transcribes VM in the app, etc. The free features are enough for most people. Paid services focus more on business features. Verizon could learn something from YouMail. Meanwhile I can do without the vzw call filter.
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