An agreement reached between state attorneys general and the major telecommunications companies to thwart robocalls is good news for anyone who has a phone. But don’t expect those ubiquitous calls from people claiming to be from the IRS or wanting to sell you low-cost health insurance to disappear.
Under the agreement, telecom companies will provide customers with free call-blocking tools and help attorneys general prosecute robocall offenders. But the pact is voluntary, there is no deadline, and it doesn’t include many small telecom providers. “Any bad guy with a computer can make a boatload of calls,” says Alex Quilici, CEO of YouMail, an app that helps block robocalls. “This will help shut them down, but it will not be instantaneous.”
In the interim, consider adopting a belt-and-suspenders approach to deter unwelcome callers. Start by signing up for services your provider has already rolled out. In addition to those tools, consider downloading a third-party app, such as YouMail or RoboKiller. These apps reject calls from dodgy numbers.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Quilici predicts that over time, the new call-blocking tools, combined with efforts to prosecute offenders, “should make the problem become more of a nuisance as opposed to the catastrophe it is now.
-
RMD Deadline April 1: Five Tax Strategies to Manage Your 2025 IncomeTaxable Income The April 1, 2025, deadline for required minimum distributions (RMDs) is fast approaching for retirees who turned 73 in 2024.
-
Rising AI Demand Stokes Undersea InvestmentsThe Kiplinger Letter As demand soars for AI, there’s a need to transport huge amounts of data across oceans. Tech giants have big plans for new submarine cables, including the longest ever.
-
How to Find Foreclosed Homes: Best Foreclosure Listings SitesMaking Your Money Last Find foreclosed homes for sale on these foreclosure listing websites. Search for properties on these free, paid or government sites.
-
Work Email Phishing Scams on the Rise: The Kiplinger LetterThe Kiplinger Letter Phishing scam emails continue to plague companies despite utilizing powerful email security tools.
-
Four Tips for Renting Out Your Home on Airbnbreal estate Here's what you should know before listing your home on Airbnb.
-
Is Relief from Shipping Woes Finally in Sight?business After years of supply chain snags, freight shipping is finally returning to something more like normal.
-
Economic Pain at a Food Pantrypersonal finance The manager of this Boston-area nonprofit has had to scramble to find affordable food.
-
The Golden Age of Cinema Enduressmall business About as old as talkies, the Music Box Theater has had to find new ways to attract movie lovers.
-
Pricey Gas Derails This Uber Driversmall business With rising gas prices, one Uber driver struggles to maintain his livelihood.
-
Smart Strategies for Couples Who Run a Business TogetherFinancial Planning Starting an enterprise with a spouse requires balancing two partnerships: the marriage and the business. And the stakes are never higher.
