How to Stop Google From Intercepting Your Business Phone Calls (Now Enabled by Default)

How to Stop Google From Intercepting Your Business Phone Calls (Now Enabled by Default)

If your business relies on phone calls, check this immediately:

👉 TLDR: You must audit and disable Google’s AI call-handling / call-screening features that are now being enabled by default on some Google Business Profiles and connected systems.

If you don’t, Google may already be intercepting incoming calls before your phone ever rings. When I was trying to figure out how to get less google business profile automated calls I found this new call-handling feature enabled on my account and was shocked.

This is no longer optional.
It is no longer opt-in only.
And most business owners don’t know it’s happening.

The Critical Discovery Most Businesses Missed

While investigating unexplained drops in legitimate calls, I uncovered something significant:

Google has rolled out an AI call interception feature connected to Google Business Profile that, in many cases, is now enabled by default.

This means:

• You may not have turned it on

• You may not see a clear toggle

• You may not receive any notification

• Yet Google may already be answering calls first

Your customer calls you — and Google answers instead.

What This Feature Does (By Default)

When enabled, Google’s AI can:

• Intercept incoming calls

• Screen the caller’s intent

• Answer on your behalf

• Decide whether the call reaches your phone

• Redirect or block calls without you knowing

This happens before your phone rings.

And yes — this can be active without explicit consent.

The real issue is missed real customers — the ones who never reach you because Google intercepted the call upstream.

Why This Is a Serious Problem for Local Businesses

This impacts businesses that depend on live calls, including:

• Salons & spas

• Contractors & trades

• Medical offices

• Service providers

• Any appointment-based business

Common warning signs:

• Sudden drop in calls

• No voicemails

• Customers saying “Google answered”

• Lost bookings with no explanation

• Feeling like calls “just stopped”

You may never know how many calls you lost.

Why Google Is Enabling This by Default

This isn’t accidental.

Google benefits by:

• Keeping users inside Google

• Collecting conversation data

• Training AI on real business calls

• Controlling customer access

• Acting as the middleman

Once Google inserts itself between you and your customer, you lose control — unless you actively remove it.

Why Most Businesses Haven’t Noticed Yet

Because:

• The setting is buried or unclear

• It may live under “call handling” or assistant features

• It doesn’t always appear in the main dashboard

• There’s no obvious alert when it’s activated

• Most agencies are not auditing call flow

Many owners assume it’s spam or a slow season.

It’s not.

Why I’m Calling This Out Now

At Rhonda Cosgriff Web Designs, I don’t just build websites — I protect how customers actually reach you.

This is a structural shift in how Google treats business phone numbers.

Directories don’t just list anymore.
They intercept.

And if you don’t intervene, Google decides who gets through.

What You Should Do Right Now

At minimum:

• Audit all call and communication settings in your GBP

• Disable AI call handling wherever possible

• Rebuild your call path so you answer first

Bottom Line

Your phone number is no longer neutral.
It’s now a control point — and Google has started claiming it by default.

If you want to keep full ownership of your customer calls, you need to act now, not later. Share this with anyone you know who uses a Google Business Profile!

—
Rhonda Cosgriff Web Designs
Real websites. Real access. No silent middlemen.