diff --git a/.vscode/launch.json b/.vscode/launch.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ca423ee85
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.vscode/launch.json
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+{
+    "version": "0.2.0",
+    "configurations": [
+        {
+            "name": "Listen for Xdebug",
+            "type": "php",
+            "request": "launch",
+            "port": 9003
+        },
+        {
+            "name": "Launch currently open script",
+            "type": "php",
+            "request": "launch",
+            "program": "${file}",
+            "cwd": "${fileDirname}",
+            "port": 0,
+            "runtimeArgs": [
+                "-dxdebug.start_with_request=yes"
+            ],
+            "env": {
+                "XDEBUG_MODE": "debug,develop",
+                "XDEBUG_CONFIG": "client_port=${port}"
+            }
+        },
+        {
+            "name": "Launch Built-in web server",
+            "type": "php",
+            "request": "launch",
+            "runtimeArgs": [
+                "-dxdebug.mode=debug",
+                "-dxdebug.start_with_request=yes",
+                "-S",
+                "localhost:8000"
+            ],
+            "env": {
+                "ENVIRONMENT": "dev"
+            },
+            "program": "${workspaceRoot}/src/index.php",  // Updated to src directory
+            "cwd": "${workspaceRoot}/src",  // Updated working directory to src
+            "port": 9003,
+            "serverReadyAction": {
+                "pattern": "Development Server \\(http://localhost:([0-9]+)\\) started",
+                "uriFormat": "http://localhost:%s",
+                "action": "openExternally"
+            }
+        }
+    ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/RELEASENOTES.md b/RELEASENOTES.md
index dbf64de5e..27a8383d5 100644
--- a/RELEASENOTES.md
+++ b/RELEASENOTES.md
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 # Release Notes
 
+### 4.4.3 (UNRELEASED)
+* Fix for blocklist capability working inconsistenly [#1329]
+
 ### 4.4.2 (March 12, 2025)
 * Support for Gather 2.0 added. [#1323]
 
diff --git a/src/app/Http/Middleware/CallBlocklist.php b/src/app/Http/Middleware/CallBlocklist.php
index 3838248a8..64f070f5a 100644
--- a/src/app/Http/Middleware/CallBlocklist.php
+++ b/src/app/Http/Middleware/CallBlocklist.php
@@ -29,11 +29,14 @@ public function __construct(SettingsService $settings)
     public function handle(Request $request, Closure $next)
     {
         if ($this->settings->has("blocklist") &&
-            strlen($this->settings->get("blocklist") > 0) &&
+            strlen($this->settings->get("blocklist")) > 0 &&
             $request->has("Caller")) {
+            $caller = $this->ensureLeadingPlus($request->get('Caller'));
+            
             $blocklistItems = explode(",", $this->settings->get('blocklist'));
             foreach ($blocklistItems as $blocklistItem) {
-                if (str_starts_with($blocklistItem, $request->get('Caller'))) {
+                $blocklistItem = $this->ensureLeadingPlus($blocklistItem);
+                if (str_starts_with($blocklistItem, $caller)) {
                     return response()->view('rejectCall')->header("Content-Type", "text/xml; charset=utf-8");
                 }
             }
@@ -41,4 +44,19 @@ public function handle(Request $request, Closure $next)
 
         return $next($request);
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Ensures a phone number has a leading plus sign and no whitespace
+     *
+     * @param string $number
+     * @return string
+     */
+    private function ensureLeadingPlus(string $number): string
+    {
+        $number = trim($number);
+        if (!str_starts_with($number, '+')) {
+            return '+' . $number;
+        }
+        return $number;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/app/Services/SettingsService.php b/src/app/Services/SettingsService.php
index 3bbe6dca4..8fd83d8b0 100644
--- a/src/app/Services/SettingsService.php
+++ b/src/app/Services/SettingsService.php
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 
 class SettingsService
 {
-    private string $version = "4.4.2";
+    private string $version = "4.4.3";
     private array $allowlist = [
         'announce_servicebody_volunteer_routing' => ['description' => '/helpline/announce_servicebody_volunteer_routing' , 'default' => false, 'overridable' => true, 'hidden' => false],
         'blocklist' => ['description' => '/general/blocklist' , 'default' => '', 'overridable' => true, 'hidden' => false],
diff --git a/src/tests/Feature/BlocklistTest.php b/src/tests/Feature/BlocklistTest.php
index f2f76a333..bf38bbbc5 100644
--- a/src/tests/Feature/BlocklistTest.php
+++ b/src/tests/Feature/BlocklistTest.php
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
 <?php
+
+use App\Services\SettingsService;
+
 beforeAll(function () {
     putenv("ENVIRONMENT=test");
 });
@@ -11,8 +14,10 @@
 });
 
 test('test the blocklist with an exact match', function ($method) {
-    $caller = "5557778888";
-    $_SESSION['override_blocklist'] = $caller;
+    $caller = "+15557778888";
+    $settingsService = new SettingsService();
+    $settingsService->set("blocklist", $caller);
+    app()->instance(SettingsService::class, $settingsService);
     $response = $this->call($method, '/', [
         "Caller"=>$caller
     ]);
@@ -22,9 +27,25 @@
         ->assertSeeInOrderExact(["<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><Response><Reject/></Response>"], false);
 })->with(['GET', 'POST']);
 
+test('test the blocklist with multiple items and an exact match', function ($method) {
+    $caller = "+15557778888,+15557778890";
+    $settingsService = new SettingsService();
+    $settingsService->set("blocklist", $caller);
+    app()->instance(SettingsService::class, $settingsService);
+    $response = $this->call($method, '/', [
+        "Caller"=>"+15557778890"
+    ]);
+    $response
+        ->assertStatus(200)
+        ->assertHeader("Content-Type", "text/xml; charset=utf-8")
+        ->assertSeeInOrderExact(["<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><Response><Reject/></Response>"], false);
+})->with(['GET', 'POST']);
+
 test('test the blocklist without a match', function ($method) {
-    $caller = "5557778888";
-    $_SESSION['override_blocklist'] = $caller;
+    $caller = "+15557778888";
+    $settingsService = new SettingsService();
+    $settingsService->set("blocklist", $caller);
+    app()->instance(SettingsService::class, $settingsService);
     $response = $this->call($method, '/', [
         "Caller"=>"5557778889"
     ]);
@@ -33,3 +54,98 @@
         ->assertHeader("Content-Type", "text/xml; charset=utf-8")
         ->assertDontSee(["<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><Response><Reject/></Response>"], false);
 })->with(['GET', 'POST']);
+
+test('test the blocklist with whitespace in caller number', function ($method) {
+    $caller = "+15557778888";
+    $settingsService = new SettingsService();
+    $settingsService->set("blocklist", $caller);
+    app()->instance(SettingsService::class, $settingsService);
+    $response = $this->call($method, '/', [
+        "Caller" => " 15557778888 "
+    ]);
+    $response
+        ->assertStatus(200)
+        ->assertHeader("Content-Type", "text/xml; charset=utf-8")
+        ->assertSeeInOrderExact(["<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><Response><Reject/></Response>"], false);
+})->with(['GET', 'POST']);
+
+test('test the blocklist with whitespace in blocklist entries', function ($method) {
+    $caller = " +15557778888 , +15557778890 ";
+    $settingsService = new SettingsService();
+    $settingsService->set("blocklist", $caller);
+    app()->instance(SettingsService::class, $settingsService);
+    $response = $this->call($method, '/', [
+        "Caller" => "+15557778890"
+    ]);
+    $response
+        ->assertStatus(200)
+        ->assertHeader("Content-Type", "text/xml; charset=utf-8")
+        ->assertSeeInOrderExact(["<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><Response><Reject/></Response>"], false);
+})->with(['GET', 'POST']);
+
+test('test the blocklist with missing plus sign in caller number', function ($method) {
+    $caller = "+15557778888";
+    $settingsService = new SettingsService();
+    $settingsService->set("blocklist", $caller);
+    app()->instance(SettingsService::class, $settingsService);
+    $response = $this->call($method, '/', [
+        "Caller" => "15557778888"
+    ]);
+    $response
+        ->assertStatus(200)
+        ->assertHeader("Content-Type", "text/xml; charset=utf-8")
+        ->assertSeeInOrderExact(["<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><Response><Reject/></Response>"], false);
+})->with(['GET', 'POST']);
+
+test('test the blocklist with missing plus sign in blocklist entries', function ($method) {
+    $caller = "15557778888,15557778890";
+    $settingsService = new SettingsService();
+    $settingsService->set("blocklist", $caller);
+    app()->instance(SettingsService::class, $settingsService);
+    $response = $this->call($method, '/', [
+        "Caller" => "+15557778890"
+    ]);
+    $response
+        ->assertStatus(200)
+        ->assertHeader("Content-Type", "text/xml; charset=utf-8")
+        ->assertSeeInOrderExact(["<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><Response><Reject/></Response>"], false);
+})->with(['GET', 'POST']);
+
+test('test the blocklist with empty blocklist', function ($method) {
+    $settingsService = new SettingsService();
+    $settingsService->set("blocklist", "");
+    app()->instance(SettingsService::class, $settingsService);
+    $response = $this->call($method, '/', [
+        "Caller" => "+15557778888"
+    ]);
+    $response
+        ->assertStatus(200)
+        ->assertHeader("Content-Type", "text/xml; charset=utf-8")
+        ->assertDontSee(["<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><Response><Reject/></Response>"], false);
+})->with(['GET', 'POST']);
+
+test('test the blocklist with missing Caller parameter', function ($method) {
+    $caller = "+15557778888";
+    $settingsService = new SettingsService();
+    $settingsService->set("blocklist", $caller);
+    app()->instance(SettingsService::class, $settingsService);
+    $response = $this->call($method, '/', []);
+    $response
+        ->assertStatus(200)
+        ->assertHeader("Content-Type", "text/xml; charset=utf-8")
+        ->assertDontSee(["<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><Response><Reject/></Response>"], false);
+})->with(['GET', 'POST']);
+
+test('test the blocklist with partial match', function ($method) {
+    $caller = "+15557778888";
+    $settingsService = new SettingsService();
+    $settingsService->set("blocklist", $caller);
+    app()->instance(SettingsService::class, $settingsService);
+    $response = $this->call($method, '/', [
+        "Caller" => "+1555777888899"
+    ]);
+    $response
+        ->assertStatus(200)
+        ->assertHeader("Content-Type", "text/xml; charset=utf-8")
+        ->assertDontSee(["<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><Response><Reject/></Response>"], false);
+})->with(['GET', 'POST']);