zilvy
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posted on May 4, 2001 09:16:25 AM new
I really was serious on another thread when I stated I would love to give up Telephone Soliciters (having them call). Because I work out of my home, I have caller ID and don't answer if it shows annonymous or unavailable.
How do you handle the aggravation? Any good suggestions...I need the phone for family and friends to be able to reach me.
[ edited by zilvy on May 4, 2001 09:19 AM ]
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jlpiece
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posted on May 4, 2001 09:25:31 AM new
I threaten their lives when they call me, and breathe heavy into the phone and tell them I will be waiting for them when they get home.
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stusi
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posted on May 4, 2001 09:42:11 AM new
many states have a department which will maintain a "no call" list for telemarketers. it may cost $10-20 per year to get on the list. if a company calls you anyway and you remind them you are on the list and they call you again, they are subject to a $10,000 fine here in Florida. we also have something called "privacy director" which screens calls, allowing you to select the calls you want to take. costs about $10 per month.
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Mybiddness
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posted on May 4, 2001 09:49:44 AM new
My goal is always to get them off the phone with the least amount of time/energy involved. Except for the rare occasion that I'm actually interested.. about once every twenty years or so.
Standard replies:
I just bought that... just had that done... my husband or I work for (competitor)...
Or, if I'm feeling spunky I'll pull a Seinfeld and ask for their home # so I can call them back when it's more convenient for me. 
Not paranoid anywhere else but here!
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RainyBear
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posted on May 4, 2001 10:23:57 AM new
Go here for info about how to get off most telemarketers' lists:
http://www.the-dma.org/consumers/offtelephonelist.html
I've done it, and it works.
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krs
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posted on May 4, 2001 10:26:49 AM new
I marry them. All eight of my ex-wives were telemarketers.
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zilvy
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posted on May 4, 2001 10:29:08 AM new
Lawdy day, Henry?? I thought you were KEN!!
Wait he only had 6, you sly rascal...that'll teach 'em to invade your space. Did any of 'em lose their heads? I just don't have the time for that foolishness...
[ edited by zilvy on May 4, 2001 10:30 AM ]
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krs
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posted on May 4, 2001 10:42:36 AM new
Irene, see that? Tell her how Henry fits in.
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toyamy
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posted on May 4, 2001 10:49:44 AM new
My parents had tried getting off the listings and everything and they were still getting 2-3 calls a night. So they signed up for a service from the phone company that puts a message on their line saying "We don't accept phone solicitations. If you're not selling something, hit 1." A little annoying for those of us who call, but I finally just plugged it into my speed dial. It's been a month and they say no one has been brave enough to hit 1 when they shouldn't. I think they said it costs like $6 a month, but they think it's worth it. It's a new service from Qwest (Phoenix area).
On a more amusing note, my father used to get rid of them by playing the ridiculous...
-- "Sir, we have a deal for you on refinancing your home."
-- "I live in a tent."
-- Usually stunned silence.
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zilvy
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posted on May 4, 2001 11:00:50 AM new
toyamy....in a time and place where I had the inclination I would "Play" too.
Siding salesman calls, I make feeble attempts to get him off the line, finally let him go through his whole spiel at least 3 minutes of his and my time. When he finally takes a deep breath I ask will that work on a brick house???
Magazine sales...pushy, pushy, pushy won't take no thank you as a reason to stop...let her yammer on...finally, ME: I'm blind and live alone!
I don't want them using my time or the phone I pay for, that I have for my convenience...and I will be damned if I'll pay more to keep 'em out of my life. They do not have a "Right" to invade my home.
I had a total of 8, 11 and 10 calls in the last 3 days from Anonymous callers.
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eyeguy6
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posted on May 4, 2001 11:03:40 AM new
For some great ideas I recommend a cd by comdedian Tom Mabe. It's titled "Revenge on the Telemarketers". He recorded his conversations with telemarketers that phoned his home and it's hilarious.
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HJw
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posted on May 4, 2001 11:05:08 AM new
Yeah, Irene,
Post a link...find a folder. That's what
you do so well!
Helen
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jamesoblivion
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posted on May 4, 2001 11:08:00 AM new
"I'm not interested". Hang up.
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zilvy
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posted on May 4, 2001 11:23:11 AM new
Now what was the TOPIC, do you know Helen? Are you Playing again??????????
[ edited by zilvy on May 4, 2001 11:24 AM ]
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HJw
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posted on May 4, 2001 11:30:19 AM new
Read the thread, Zilvy.
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zilvy
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posted on May 4, 2001 11:43:24 AM new
Helen why don't you
[ edited by zilvy on May 4, 2001 01:07 PM ]
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HJw
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posted on May 4, 2001 11:55:28 AM new
Never happen, Zilvy.
I don't share my email address with everybody.
Helen
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sNOWyegret
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posted on May 4, 2001 12:06:35 PM new
Thanks to corrdog for this one.
You must have the wrong number.
We don't have a phone.
It works!
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HJw
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posted on May 4, 2001 12:06:59 PM new
The best defense aganist unsolicited calls is
caller ID.
Helen
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zilvy
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posted on May 4, 2001 12:08:31 PM new
Snowy that is absolutely wonderful!!
If I am feeling frisky some day I will use that one...you are a treasure for sharing.
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HJw
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posted on May 4, 2001 12:09:35 PM new
sNOWyegret
 That's the best one that I have heard
yet!
Helen
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Bunnicula
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posted on May 4, 2001 12:13:58 PM new
I just say "No thank you," and hang up. No muss, no fuss.
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wisegirl
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posted on May 4, 2001 12:17:23 PM new
Zilvy, I used to do what you do --- depend on caller ID to screen my calls. I never picked up an "unknown name unknown number" call, but that didn't seem to discourage the telemarkers, for I was getting 8-9 of these calls every day.
So I tried a new approach: I answered all of them. I had heard somewhere that if you tell a telemarketer to remove you from his call list and not to call again, he has to remove you. So that's what I'm doing now, and it seems to be working.
I got a call from a replacement windows company a few weeks ago. It was a company located in a nearby city and I had heard of it, but the questions the man asked were so intrusive that I felt threatened by them. I told him I was not interested at this time (the polite approach). He then said he wanted to come by the next day and draw up an estimate; I said I was busy. "Do you live alone?" "Do you work during the day?" "What is your income?" I bristled and told him I was not comfortable with the nature of his questions and I hung up.
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zilvy
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posted on May 4, 2001 12:42:48 PM new
See, that is a real intrusion..we know we don't have to answer the questions, but who are these people with all this hutzpah to have the nerve to ask these questions, and for your credit card # no less. There oughta
be a law...sign up if you WANT to be called..
how about that?
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Femme
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posted on May 4, 2001 01:04:48 PM new
How I reply isn't nearly as interesting as what I'm going to say from now on.
Thanks, Corrdog!!!...and Snowy for sharing.
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MuRiEl
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posted on May 4, 2001 02:20:58 PM new
I stop the caller immediately and ask to be put on the "do not call" list. It is working very well. 
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HJw
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posted on May 4, 2001 02:24:38 PM new
MuRiEl
Wouldn't it be fun to be able to send them an appropriate gif?
Helen
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doxdogy
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posted on May 4, 2001 03:01:45 PM new
Some local phone companies have a service that enhances caller id and can stop it. The local company here in Florida has it in most if not all areas. If a call comes through as unknown or out of area, your phone doesn't ring. The caller gets a recording asking them to identify themselves. If they refuse to identify themselves, they are then hung up on. Once, they identify themselves and it is determined that they are a sales solicitation call you have the option of activating a recording that states you don't accept sales solicitation calls and to remove your name from their list. If they refuse to do so, they can be subject to a fine.
Theresa
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margot
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posted on May 4, 2001 03:07:05 PM new
I have caller ID so I usually don't answer calls that are unidentified. But, if one of them gets thru, I interrupt them and tell them to please take me off their caller list. It has cut down on the calls a lot.
I had one seller call again and I reminded them that I had asked to be removed. Please get their records straight because if it happens again I will report them. They usually apologise as I'm hanging up the phone. What they don't know is: I'm not sure who I'd report them too!
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busybiddy
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posted on May 4, 2001 03:10:05 PM new
I have a little, high-pitched voice and have been annoyed and embarrassed that people often think I'm a little girl if they only hear my voice and don't see me. Now, perfect revenge! I have a use for that voice!
When the telemarketers call and ask "is mommy or daddy home?" I just say "no, they're out right now." If they ask for me by name, I say "she's not home" and they hang right up! I love it!
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