If you’ve ever picked up your phone, tried to dial a number, and suddenly received the message “you are not allowed to make dialed carrier calls”, you’re not alone. Seeing this error can feel confusing and frustrating, especially if you urgently need to connect. But the good news is—it’s not a permanent problem. In most cases, the “you are not allowed to make dialed carrier calls” error is linked to carrier settings, billing issues, or service plan limitations that can be resolved with a few simple steps. In this guide, we’ll break down what this error actually means, why it happens, and how you can fix it quickly.
What Does the “Dialed Carrier Calls Not Allowed” Call Restriction Message Mean?
If you’ve ever seen the error message “You are not allowed to make dialed carrier calls”, it means your phone cannot connect the call due to carrier restrictions, service plan limitations, or device settings. In simple words, your telecommunications provider has blocked the call for a specific reason—either temporary or permanent.
Why Your Phone Service Provider or Telecommunications Carrier Might Show This Error
Carriers use these restrictions to prevent fraud, protect billing, manage network issues, and block unauthorized calls. Depending on your service plan, account status, or phone settings, the restriction may appear when you try to dial certain numbers.
Why This Error Happens
The error message “You are not allowed to make dialed carrier calls” usually points to restrictions placed by your phone service provider or telecommunications carrier. These restrictions can be temporary or permanent depending on your service plan, account status, or network rules. In most cases, the issue is not with your phone itself but with carrier-side settings, billing status, or dialing rules.
Carrier Restrictions and Service Plan Limitations
Your telecommunications provider often controls what kind of calls you can make depending on your service plan details. If you are on a basic plan, you might not be able to make international calls or use certain premium services. Similarly, prepaid plans sometimes block premium-rate numbers or limit access to third-party carriers.
For example, a traveler with a low-cost service plan may face issues when trying to dial abroad, receiving the “You are not allowed to make dialed carrier calls” error instead. Always check your service plan limitations or speak with your service provider to understand what your plan covers.
Account Settings Restrictions & User Restrictions
If your phone is part of a corporate account or family plan, chances are that the account administrator has applied certain user restrictions. These can include:
- Blocking international dialing to prevent high costs.
- Limiting calls to premium-rate numbers.
- Restricting calls during work hours (in corporate accounts).
Such settings are usually applied for cost savings features or fraud prevention in telecom. If you think this is the reason behind the error, you should log into your account settings or contact your administrator.
Billing Issues With Phone Service
One of the most common reasons for this error is linked to your billing practices. Carriers may temporarily suspend your ability to make outbound calls if:
- Unpaid bills are overdue.
- An automated payment failed.
- There’s a billing dispute under review.
In most cases, once you clear the unpaid bills or update your payment method, the restriction is lifted. It’s also a good idea to enable automated payments to avoid service disruptions in the future.
Service Agreement Limitations
Your service agreement is essentially a contract that defines what you can and cannot do with your plan. For instance:
- Some agreements prohibit premium-rate numbers.
- International calling may require special add-ons.
- Roaming services might not activate automatically.
Always review your service agreement limitations before assuming something is wrong. Sometimes, it’s not a technical issue but simply a part of your plan limitations.
International Call Restrictions & Roaming Services
To protect users from unexpected charges, most carriers block international calling by default. This is especially true for prepaid users. Similarly, if you’re traveling, you may face restrictions until you manually activate roaming services or purchase an international calling add-on.
If you need to make frequent international calls, check if your provider offers cost-effective calling packages or alternative carriers that specialize in global services.
Premium-Rate Numbers and Number Blocking
Premium-rate numbers are usually linked to contests, subscriptions, or special services like adult hotlines. These calls are often blocked by default to protect customers from high costs and telecom fraud protection.
If you actually need to access these numbers, you’ll have to contact your service provider and request that they remove the block. However, do this with caution, as such services can result in unexpected charges.
Error Messages You Might See
Sometimes, instead of seeing “You are not allowed to make dialed carrier calls”, you may encounter different error messages such as:
- Disconnected Number → The number was once active but is no longer in service.
- Subscriber Not in Service → The recipient has canceled or changed their plan.
- Unassigned Exchange → The number doesn’t exist under the current carrier system.
- Vacant Level / Impossible Sequence Error → Indicates invalid dialing codes or carrier routing issues.
These messages usually point to carrier or network problems rather than issues with your phone itself. In such cases, you may need to verify the number format or check if your telecommunications carrier is experiencing disruptions.
Common Scenarios Where You See This Message
This error usually appears in a few common situations—for example, when your bill payment is overdue, if you’re trying to make an international or roaming call without the right plan, or when you attempt to dial restricted premium-rate numbers. It can also show up on family or corporate accounts where call limits are applied, or during a temporary carrier/network glitch.
Outbound Call Restrictions
If your carrier policy blocks outbound calls (due to fraud prevention or overdue payments), you’ll face this error.
Blocked Calls and Blocked Number Behavior
When someone blocks your number, your call may ring once and go straight to voicemail issues, making it look like a call restriction.
Dialing Codes & Access Number Dialing
If you use incorrect dialing codes or try to call via an access number, your carrier may reject the call.
Using Third-Party or Alternative Carriers
Some users switch to cheaper services for cost savings. However, alternative carrier services may have network coverage limitations that cause this error.
How to Fix the “Dialed Carrier Calls Not Allowed” Error
The good news is that this error can usually be fixed without much hassle. Most of the time, it’s related to account issues, billing problems, or carrier settings. By checking a few things—like your service plan details, account balance, and call restrictions—you can quickly get your phone working again.
Check Your Service Plan Details and Service Agreement Limitations
Review your service plan limitations to confirm whether your plan allows international calls, premium numbers, or roaming.
Contact Your Phone Service Provider / Telecommunications Provider
Reach out to your telecommunications provider and ask if any carrier restrictions are active on your account.
Resolve Billing Issues or Update Automated Payments
Clear any billing issues or failed automated payments that might have triggered a block.
Adjust Account Settings or Speak With Your Account Administrator
If you’re on a corporate or shared plan, request the account administrator to remove call restrictions.
Enable International Dialing or Roaming Services
Activate roaming services or request international calling access if you’re abroad.
Troubleshoot Carrier Restrictions With Customer Support
Customer support can confirm whether the issue is due to network congestion, SIM card problems, or device settings.
Explore Cost Savings Features and Call Routing Through Carriers
Some carriers offer call routing or Wi-Fi calling features that can bypass restrictions and save costs.
Preventing This Error in the Future
While fixing the “You are not allowed to make dialed carrier calls” error is important, it’s even better to avoid it altogether. By keeping your account updated, monitoring your service plan limitations, and enabling useful features like automated payments or fraud protection, you can reduce the chances of this issue happening again.
Understand Your Service Provider Restrictions
Familiarize yourself with your carrier restrictions before traveling or dialing premium numbers.
Review Mobile Service Plans for Cost-Effective Calling
Choose a plan that matches your calling needs—especially if you make frequent international calls.
Watch Out for Unexpected Charges and Billing Practices
Set up alerts for billing issues to avoid sudden service interruptions.
Fraud Prevention in Telecom (Protect Against Unauthorized Calls)
Carriers sometimes block suspicious calls as part of fraud prevention. Keeping your account secure helps avoid unwanted restrictions.
Final Thoughts
The error “You are not allowed to make dialed carrier calls” usually means your carrier is blocking the call due to service plan limitations, billing issues, or call restrictions.
By understanding carrier restrictions, device settings, and billing practices, you can quickly resolve the issue. If in doubt, always contact your telecommunications provider for reliable support and explore cost-saving mobile plans that fit your calling habits.
FAQs
Can a SIM card problem cause the “dialed carrier calls not allowed” error?
Yes. An outdated SIM card or a damaged SIM can prevent outgoing calls. Replacing it often resolves the issue.
Does airplane mode trigger this error?
Yes. If airplane mode is on, your phone disconnects from the cellular network, causing the error.
Why do I get this message only for international calls?
Most carriers disable international calling restrictions by default to avoid high bills. You must enable them manually.
