I’ve found that “are you asking for money” works pretty well. That failing, I can usually give a convincing reason for “I’m not interested” fairly quickly (I don’t own a car. I don’t own a TV. I already have broadband internet faster and cheaper than what you’re offering. I already have a credit card with a higher limit and lower rates than what you’re offering.) If it’s a charity (or claiming to be one), I tell them that I never commit to money over the phone, and if they send me something in the mail, I’ll look at it. They never do.
The key is that smart telemarketers don’t want to waste their time on someone who’s genuinely uninterested. They want to get on to the next call, where they might make a sale.
Tamex, here is another suggestion for the phone call for your husband.
Telemarketer: “Is Mr. Tamex there?”
You: “May I tell him who’s calling?”
Telemarketer: “This is Bob.”
You: Bob, you will never reach Mr. Tamex during the time frame that you’ve been using. I strongly suggest you either leave a message, or don’t call back because again, you will never reach him here since he works days. Thanks!
My husband travels a lot and I use the same spiel for his callers. This has GREATLY reduced his solicitation calls. I think the telemarkers would appreciate your letting them know they won’t reach him without you coming off looking like a jerk.
You are way to polite. I always said I am not interested and hang up or just hung up. Nothing about not having a tv or whatever. There is no need to explain why you don’t want to be bothered.
Since I got rid of my home phone and now only use my cell phone The only calls I get are my credit card companies wanting to sell me some stupid service and that does not happen very often. In fact lack of telemarketing calls is almost as big a benefit and the savings from not having an extra phone.
Well, I think that the calls should stop now. The suspected credit card company got smart and called after dinner. Hubby answered the phone. They gave him their pitch (pay $20 a month so that they will pay your credit card bill in case of disability). Hubby said, “No, I’m not interested”, and hung up.
All that effort. I could have told them that he wouldn’t be interested a week ago, if they’d let me :D.
Just a disgruntled teen tryin to make a buck to support my outrageous spending habbits. I really hate my work, but I’m sorry if I end up dragging others down into my level of depression.
There are companies that publish a “criss-cross” phonebook. This lists phone numbers by street address and allows telemarketers to target specific neighborhoods. (“Hi we’ll be out in you area collecting donations for…”) My misforture was getting seven years of calls for “Mr. Corbin” What developed was that the criss-cross phonebook company had my number listed three times! (for Corbin, myself, and myself and Corbin!) I was getting three calls as I had three listings! After the company finally removed me (signed form etc.) I discovered that old phonebooks don’t get thrown, then get used by another fly-by-night telemarketer.
Check out my thread in the pit . . . to quote an old cliche, the hunter has become the hunted.
That’s right baby, the case of Lucwarm v. Ah Telemarketers, Inc.* was filed today in Hunterdon County Special Civil Court. We’ll see who ends up making a buck, eh?
