Unsolicited telemarketing calls remain one of the top consumer complaints in France, despite an increasingly strict regulatory framework. The good news is that a combination of legal, technical and behavioural measures can dramatically reduce their frequency.
Step 1: register on Bloctel — the official solution
Bloctel (bloctel.gouv.fr) is France's official opt-out register for commercial telemarketing. Any professional conducting telephone canvassing is legally required to check this list before each campaign. Registration is free, takes around five minutes and is valid for three years. The effect is felt within 30 days. Note: Bloctel only covers lawful commercial calls — scammers and overseas callers are unaffected.
Step 2: configure your smartphone
On iPhone, enable Silence Unknown Callers under Settings → Phone. On Android, enable the Spam filter in Phone → Settings → Caller ID and spam. These built-in features handle a large share of nuisance calls automatically.
Step 3: use your carrier's tools and protect your number
All major French carriers (Orange, SFR, Bouygues, Free) offer anti-spam options at network level. Longer term, limit how widely you share your number: untick opt-in boxes when buying online, avoid publishing your number publicly, and use a secondary number for low-priority registrations.
Step 4: report and check on TelCheck
Report violations on bloctel.gouv.fr and on Signal Conso (signalconso.gouv.fr). Before returning any unknown missed call, look it up on TelCheck — the TelCheck community flags new telemarketing campaigns in real time, saving you from unnecessary callbacks or premium-rate traps.