Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

The product description says the Callblocker comes with 200 pre-programmed numbers, but the enclosed document says only four blocking codes are pre-programmed: 800 numbers, witheld ID, VOIP, and unavailable ID. The standard serial connection does not pass the caller-ID through to my DECT phone here. Since Callblocker doesn't keep a caller ID list, this configuration completely killed my caller-ID. I didn't find this out until I tried to return an important call and could not locate the caller's ID in my phone. That was a big problem for me. So I reconfigured to parallel connection. The installation diagram for parallel connection in the manual is labeled "(For Outside the UK)". I guess that means we non-Brits mostly can't use the serial connection and see Caller ID. It would have been nice to know this before I ordered. The parallel connection preserves caller ID to the phones, but loses important function: you cannot program the phone, or use codes like 2# to block a number during a call from an extension handset. Worse yet, in my experience, the Callblocker misses some digits of the incoming number, and hitting the Block button during an incoming call only "blocks" part of the number. I have copper-wire service and have tested the caller-ID signal all over the house. It's strong and all devices I've tested can read it, even all at once - except the Callblocker. This makes the Block button useless unless it's a local call with no area code. For some reason, it works OK with those numbers. Also, one side of the supplied splitter does not fit either the included cable or any of mine; it's poorly manufactured. I had to use my own splitter to use the parallel configuration. So far, the only way I can block a specific number is to reconfigure the connection from parallel to serial and program it in using codes like **2# *2# for the last call. If it's not the last number that called, I have to be specific and use a different code such as this: **7#5105551212#. Meanwhile, the phone company is complaining loudly in the background as I do it. I don't know about other places in the world, but in the San Francisco Bay Area, the caller ID signal comes between the first and second rings. So before the blocker can hang up the call, it has to wait until after the first ring. So in parallel configuration, "blocked" calls get one ring through every time. Had I known all of this beforehand, I doubt I would have bought the CPR Callblocker. Since it came from England, I'm wondering if I have to deal with the post office, customs declarations and big postage to return it in a timely fashion. As it is, the Callblocker will prevent calls from 800 numbers, those with ID's witheld or unavailable or labeled VOIP, and local telemarketers from leaving messages on my answerphones. And I wont waste my time by answering. But I'll still hear them ring once. And I'll still be wasting time by re-configuring the connection and programming in the most troublesome callers.