September 11, 2026
Choose to refuse
Choose to Refuse allows you to bar the telephone number of the last answered incoming call. Or you can also add to your data store by inputting specific telephone numbers manually.
This service is useful if you want to bar nuisance calls, like those from fraudulent businesses.
Callers trying to contact you from numbers that have been barred will receive a network announcement saying: ‘The person you are calling is not accepting calls from you’.
You can bar up to 10 numbers with Choose to Refuse. The 11th entry will cause the oldest telephone number saved to drop out of the list. You can change the barred numbers as often as you want.
Certain calls can’t be barred, like those from some international destinations. This is because we don’t always receive the number from the overseas network that the call originated from.
If a business uses caller display to show an 0800 number, Choose to Refuse doesn’t bar the 0800 number itself but uses the underlying network number.
We’re also unable to bar calls when the caller withholds their number. However, we do offer anonymous call rejection, which will block all calls from withheld numbers.
Once you’ve contacted us to request this feature on your line, please use the below instructions.
To bar the last call you answered:
Dial 14258 and press the star key (*) on your phone’s keypad twice at the voice prompt.
To bar other numbers at any time:
Dial 14258 and enter your PIN. You’ll be given the following options:
- Adding a number to your list – Include the area STD code before UK numbers and press the hash key (#) at the end of the number
- Reviewing your barred numbers list – Choose to Refuse will tell you the number and the date that it was barred. You should also choose this option if you want to delete a number from your list
- Changing your PIN number – PINs in sequences such as 5678 and 2222 or patterns on your dialling keypad such as 2580 are not allowed. The default PIN is 1234
Please note, Choose to Refuse is only available on single lines
Call barring
Call barring allows you to restrict the type of calls your line can receive and make.
There are several options for call barring, depending on your line type:
- All incoming and outgoing calls
- Outgoing calls (with the option to include or exclude 999 & 112)
- Incoming calls
- National rate numbers
- Premium rate services (PRS)
- Directory enquiries (118)
- International numbers
- Operator calls
- Indirect access numbers
The price of these services will depend on your line type, which calls you want to bar and whether it applies to incoming or outgoing calls
Anonymous Call Rejection
Anonymous Call Rejection allows you to block any calls where the caller has withheld their number. This can be helpful if your line is receiving spam or nuisance calls. The price for this service depends on your line type.
A message will notify the caller that: ‘The person you are calling is not accepting anonymous calls. Please redial without withholding your number’.
Certain calls can’t be blocked, like those where the system can’t find the identity of the caller and where the number is received as ‘unavailable’.
Please note, due to the configuration of their private switchboards, public services like the police force, the DSS, hospitals, fire brigades and public utilities will not be able to contact customers who use Anonymous Call Reject
Once Anonymous Call Reject has been activated on your line, use the below codes on your keypad to manage the service:
- To turn on – Dial *227#
- To turn off – Dial #227#
- To check if it’s switched on/off – Dial *#227#
Call Minder
Call Minder allows callers to leave a message when you’re unavailable or your line is engaged. You can record your own personalised message and retrieve your messages remotely from any landline phone or mobile.
The service allows you to store up to 30 messages, with a maximum length of five minutes a message. Saved messages are automatically deleted after 30 days.
We also offer Call Minder Extensions and Call Minder Premium.
Call Minder Extensions allows up to eight extension mailboxes as well as the main mailbox, each with its own greeting and personal options.
Call Minder Premier allows extension mailboxes as above and can save up to 50 messages. It also allows you to record an absence greeting – if you’re going on holiday, for example.
Please note, Call Minder is not available on ISDN lines
1571 voicemail
1571 is an answering service that allows callers to leave a message if you can’t answer or the line is engaged. You can access your mailbox from any landline or mobile.
We also offer ‘1571 with Personal Greeting’, which allows you to record your own greeting for callers to hear.
Both options can store up to 20 messages and messages can be up to two minutes long.
Messages are stored for 20 days, or 60 days if they haven’t been listened to yet
