7 On Your Side: How to block annoying robocalls

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Are you tired of telemarketing calls? If so, Consumers Union said your phone company should do more to help you block the annoying interruptions.

Robocalls are a hassle. You can try to block them as long as your phone isn't a traditional landline.

If you have a smartphone, there are apps designed to stop robocalls.

Tom Donlea is with White Pages Current. "We have preloaded into current over 21,000 known or suspicious fraudulent numbers," Donlea said.

If you have Internet phone service like Xfinity, you can use the blocking service called Nomorobo, but there is no service available for traditional landline phones.

Lavinia Turner said she is often interrupted at work by robocalls. "I think it is a terrible practice and they should stop it," she said.

Consumers Union spokesperson Tim Marvin agrees and blames not just the robocallers, but also the telephone industry.

The fact is that phone companies have a responsibility to make sure that good phone calls are getting through to our houses, and then they should give us an option to block the bad ones.

Marvin said all phone companies either have the sophisticated technology to stop these calls or should acquire it. "We do think that there's technology out there that can help solve this problem, the phone companies need to make this investment to stop them," he said.

Bay Area's landline giant, AT&T, issued a written response in regards to this saying: "Robocalls are an industry-wide issue and we continue to work closely with the government and industry partners to make improvements. We appreciate consumers union's input and will continue our work to help find solutions."

The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association said blaming the carriers is blaming the messengers. In a statement they said: "No one wants robocalls, and the attention to stop them needs to focus on those bad actors who are willfully and blatantly ignoring the laws."

Consumers Union wants all phone companies, wired Internet- wireless, to offer free phone blocking.

But for now most of us are on our own looking for apps, using internet solutions and answering mysterious phone calls with no one on the other end of the line.

I am following all the efforts to reign in robocalls and will report back as things change.