Defeating Telemarketing Calls

[sharlee]

This has worked so well for us, friends and family that I want to share it with everyone.

Simply place the following message on your answering machine.

"We do not buy ANYTHING over the phone.

If you are a legitimate caller, please identify yourself after the tone."


Caps is emphasized when speaking.

We have used this since November and after about a month the number of Bombay calls (and others) began to drop.

Anybody that needs to speak to us simply says who they are, anybody who doesn't can listen to the silence.

The actual number of unidentified calls continues to drop.

Good luck !

[jase]

I just hang up on them. Havn't had a call for a while. After saying that they will probably start now!

[sharlee]

I just hang up on them. Havn't had a call for a while. After saying that they will probably start now!

Trouble with that is that the persistent ones ring back and say...

"I think we got disconnected"

[batb0y]

Im with Jase - I simply say "Go Away" politely and hang up immediately. Never had one of them call me back.

[thetormentor]

Tell them you work in the media. They hang up straight away.

[BigDan]

All I do is just say quickly, "No Thanks, Bye" and hang up. They don't get the message but I'll keep doing it 'til they learn. ;)

[DoubleMC]

A couple of times i said "you got the wrong number" or " sorry he's not here at the moment.
You also can hear yourself in the background because they recording it, Thats when i say nothing and they think there something wrong with phone. and they hang up, they don't call back either which is good.

[sharlee]

ALL of which involve the effort of picking up the phone.

I don't like giving the SOB's even that much satisfaction, our way requires NO effort and the simple satisfaction of costing them a phone call.

Anyhoo, if you don't like the idea, its simple, don't use it !

Over and Out !

[The Knowfirst Reporter]

I've worked for a company that does telemarketing. The thing you should say is:

"I'm sorry but I'm not interested. Please remove my name and address from your database".

If its recorded, and they don't do it, you can then take action against them.

[It's Time]

Anyhoo, if you don't like the idea, its simple, don't use it !

These calls are such a royal pain we need as many creative ideas as possible to defeat them... so don't be upset if not everyone goes with your one. Having enjoyed some of the suggestions... I've decided next time I get my next special offer from Bombay I'm going to launch into a Monty Pythonesque whinge session. "hey thanks for calling... you wouldn't believe the rotten day I've had.......

[batb0y]

when does the local Do Not Call database start ?

[sharlee]

when does the local Do Not Call database start ?

May

[curious]

I haven't had a telemarketing call for ages. Maybe its because i have a private number.

[ZOS]

I haven't had a telemarketing call for ages. Maybe its because i have a private number.
The zero at the start of the area code is not private:)
Zos

[sixers33]

If a telemarketer calls, then start selling a product to them.

"What did you say? I can't hear you? Want to sell a product? Would you like to buy a Cadbury Chocolate Frog for a school fundraiser? Just 1 dollar! Or buy a chocolate frog and a caramel koala for just 2 dollar! Just 2 dollar!"

Or is selling a product over phone illegal to do at telemarketers?

One time a telemarketer was calling my hope and my child picked up the phone. The telemarketer thought that my 5 year old son was me! My son passed the phone on to me and i said "Hello?" The telemarketer started asking if i was interested in some product. I asked if there was a 90 minute talk in it. She said no.
After a few minutes of her talking, i said "what's in it for you?" (because i am offered all of these gifts.) She said just a 90 minute call.

If a telemarketer calls us, do we have to pay for it? Is it legal for them to record me?

Can i take action?

[batb0y]

You dont pay for it - only with your time.

they cant legally record u without notifying you.

[lochness]

VoIP + unlisted number = ZERO telemarketing calls at home for over two years now = BLISS :D

I still get them at WORK alot though. Printer Toner cartridge people are are the same rung as land rats and used car peddlers in my book. I would tell them I'm not interested. REPEATEDLY. Some cannot believe I'm not interested in the "amazing savings" they are offering. Even had a couple ring back to swtichboard asking to speak to my boss wanting to know why I didn't want to save the company "significant" amounts of money. Those ones are going to the special kind of hell reserved for .. .well you can guess who else goes there.

Most of our "office" type services and equipment is done thru corporation wide deals by head office so I just flick the nice ones up the chain. And there ARE nice ones who are polite on the phone and will LISTEN to what I'm saying rather than just blurting through the script on ROTE.

[sixers33]

telemarketers are so ANNOYING!!!

[wolfbite]

i just tell them f&%* off. I have got past the polite part. Although I must agree that since I changed to VOIP that I haven't had any calls.

[voltare1]

just tell them that the person they wish to contact has just died , or speak back to them in an accent.

[Andyt30]

i got call display and oftern shows up as Overseas i pick it up wait for em to talk and slam the phone down ;)

[digitalj]

We have caller ID on our phones, so if we wanted to we could memorise all the numbers we know are people we know, and ignore the rest, it only doesn't work when the telemarketers are using a private number, but that can be fixed, ask all your contacts with private numbers to transmit their number by typing in a code before they ring you, then if you get a private call it will have to be telemarketers :)

[aussieguru]

i pick up the phone, if there is a 2 sec gap, the phone gets hung up.

The mrs has started doing it now but her patience has worn thin and it lasts a second for her.

[sixers33]

*grave dig*

That Telemarketing list really works.. except for charities :(

[aussieguru]

I find it has dropped a bit but i am still getting research calls.

I DONT WANT ANYONE TO CALL ME!!!!

[digitalj]

I received a Telemarketing Call on my Mobile this afternoon, 1st one since I got the Mobile nearly 2 years ago, my response:

Hung up instantly and came downstairs and registered my phone on the do not call register.

[Sskahryl]

*grave dig*

That Telemarketing list really works.. except for charities :(

Charities are excluded from the do not call register

[Rob_136]

I just tell them wow and hang up.