How to block nuisance and spam calls in the UK and Ireland
Unwanted sales calls, recorded messages and spam texts are some of the most common complaints to UK and Irish regulators. The good news: you can stack several free defences and cut the noise dramatically. Here is how to do it, layer by layer.
Start with the official do-not-call register
In the UK, register your landline and mobile with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS), the only official opt-out for live marketing calls, at tpsonline.org.uk. It is free, takes about 28 days to take effect, and makes it unlawful under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations for organisations to cold-call you for marketing.
In Ireland, the equivalent works differently: you ask your phone provider to record an opt-out on the National Directory Database (NDD). Irish mobile numbers are opted out of marketing calls by default, so the NDD opt-out mainly matters for landlines.
Registers stop legitimate UK and Irish marketers, but they do not stop scammers, who ignore the law anyway. Treat the register as one layer, not the whole wall.
Turn on your network's free call protection
Most UK and Irish operators now offer free call-screening or scam-blocking features that filter known nuisance numbers before your phone even rings. Check your provider's app or call them to switch it on, it usually costs nothing.
You can also dial 7726 (it spells SPAM) to forward spam texts to your mobile network for free, which helps providers block the source.
Use your phone's built-in tools and a blocking app
Both Android and iPhone let you silence unknown callers and block individual numbers. That helps, but spammers rotate numbers constantly, so manual blocking is a losing battle on its own.
A dedicated call-filtering app keeps an up-to-date list of suspicious and premium-rate ranges and screens them automatically, while letting your saved contacts always ring through. Allociao does exactly this, filtering entirely on your device, with no account and no ads, so cold callers get hung up on while the people who matter still get through.
FAQ
Will the TPS stop all calls?
No. It stops UK organisations making live marketing calls, but criminals and overseas callers ignore it. Combine it with network protection and a blocking app.
Is registering free?
Yes. The TPS in the UK and the NDD opt-out in Ireland are both free. Never pay a third party to register you.
Do blocking apps see my contacts or calls?
A privacy-first app like Allociao filters locally on your device and never needs your call log or contacts uploaded anywhere.