# How do you handle telemarketers? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 23, 2003, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331 "2003-01-23T01:12:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![AfterAugust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AfterAugust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AfterAugust)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/81 "2003-01-25T08:14:52Z")
I think the most important (and possibly only worthwhile) skills that came from telemarketing are patience and will-power. I’ve totally perfected the art of tongue-biting. Oh, and I got over my irrational fear of phones. You want me to order pizza? BRING IT ON!!! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/82 "2003-01-25T08:17:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AfterAugust \* > …being a former telemarketer… You got out - well done! > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AfterAugust \* > First off, commission isn’t really worth much, so it isn’t a big deal if we don’t sell anything all the time. Then why get annoyed if we waste your time? > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AfterAugust \* > Since you didn’t tell them to take you off the list, they’ll just keep calling you. The marketing policy of the gutter. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AfterAugust \* > For the most part, telemarketers who do outbound calls like it when they don’t have to take calls. So just walking away and leaving the phone sitting there for an hour is doing them a favor, they’re still getting paid. Thank you. My pleasure (not really). > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AfterAugust \* > Also keep in mind that people who are telemarketers don’t do it because they like it, they do it because they need a job, and it’s something anyone can do. With the economy the way it is now, that’s why I was one. So fuck you. I was all set to point out that being abusive seems to be a requirement for telemarketers, and insult you back, but then you posted: > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AfterAugust \* > Actually, the only valid excuse for telemarketing is a fucking job. Just because I was one for a whopping 5 weeks, doesn’t mean I liked what I did. It meant that I live in rural Utah where there are ZERO jobs available, and telemarketing was the ONLY option I had that didn’t involve driving all the way to Salt Lake (which is a good 40 minute drive, and eats away at my gas bill), that paid well enough to be worth it. It’s so bad that the only other option is to move, which is exactly what I’m doing. > > Does this mean I’m an advocate for telemarketing? Hell no, I hate every aspect of it. I’m just saying that sometimes people have no choice but to do the unsavory, which is usually temporary, which explains the high turnover rates. Nobody stays very long, for good reason. > > Also, before getting irate at the actual telemarketers, get mad at the morons who ACTUALLY BUY SHIT OVER THE TELEPHONE. They’re the reason why telemarketing continues! > > Look, I hate telemarketing as much as the next person. However, instead of lashing out at the people who need the work, get mad at the corporations responsible. The unfortunates who work the phones, 95% of time, desperately need the money and have few options. This is a perfect summary of the whole sorry business. Good luck in your new area (and thanks for getting out of telemarketing). ---
**Author:** ![AfterAugust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AfterAugust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AfterAugust)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/83 "2003-01-25T08:26:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by glee \* > \*\* > Good luck in your new area (and thanks for getting out of telemarketing). \*\* Thank you. 🙂 Oh, and I sold crap for Sprint, so if you own, or know anybody that does own Sprint products - tell them to get rid of them. Sprint sucks, the long distant plans are horrible and waste money. They treat they’re employees and customers like shit. As far as I know, Sprint customers are not under any sort of contract, and can cancel at any time. The thing I felt worst about when I was calling people, was the fact that they had been called up to 4 times already by that time…by Sprint…for the same fucking offer… I believe the number is, 1-888-633-7714. Sorry if the last 4 digits are off, I’m trying to erase the script from my memory… I suppose this is my way of redeeming myself, it’s the least I can do. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/84 "2003-01-25T08:31:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by glee \* > \*\*What amazing ‘logic’. :rolleyes: > > Is **your** number publically available? > What would you do if we set a computer to repeatedly auto-dial it? > (Perhaps then you would understand what telemarketing feels like…) Yes, logic … is this your first time dealing with the concept? There is, of course, a huge difference between taking an occasional telemarketing call and setting a computer to repeatedly autodial a number. The former is just the chance you take when you own a phone; the latter is deranged. Your analogies are lousy. But at least you’re already admitted that you’re not very good at them. And where do you figure that I don’t understand what telemarketing feels like? Do you think I have a Magic Phone that doesn’t get these calls? Of course I get them – and instead of throwing a big fit about how unfair the world is, I just say “no” and hang up the phone. You never did answer MY question – and you do like to make a big deal when I fail to answer your questions, so turnabout is fair play. Why shouldn’t any member of the public be able to dial any publicly available number? > [@](#): > > \*\* > Also, you haven’t answered my previous questions: > > Next you claimed (laughably) that telemarketing ‘requires sales skills’. > I listed some real sales skills then asked… \*\* Yes, it does require sales skills. I don’t know where you get off defining what “real” sales skills are. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/85 "2003-01-25T08:31:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lissa \* > …I work in a museum. (Finally found my dream job. I’m actually happy to get up and go to work in the morning.) Me too - now **that’s** job satisfaction. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lissa \* > Here in the U.S we consider ourselves lucky if the text books post-date the Regan era. Computers are sometimes in wealthier school districts, but a lot of American schools have leaky roofs, which are a higher priority. Strewth! Blimey! (Harmless cockney affectations, expressing surprise). The richest nation on Earth has not got its priorities right. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lissa \* > _curtsies_ Sir, I do declare you’re makin’ me blush! Well you deserve it 🙂 (similar to telemarketers, except what they deserve is very different). ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/86 "2003-01-25T08:35:48Z")
Wow, a simulpost with **glee**. I’m, like, honored or something. ---
**Author:** ![AfterAugust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AfterAugust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AfterAugust)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/87 "2003-01-25T08:35:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lissa \* > \*\*Nope. I work in a museum. (Finally found my dream job. I’m actually happy to get up and go to work in the morning.) > \*\* Good for you! I bet getting a dream job would kick ass… All I want to do is work at a bookstore…_sniffle_ 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Already\_in\_Use](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Already\_in\_Use](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Already_in_Use)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/88 "2003-01-25T08:48:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AfterAugust \* > \*\*Actually, the only valid excuse for telemarketing is a fucking job. Just because I was one for a whopping 5 weeks, doesn’t mean I liked what I did. It meant that I live in rural Utah where there are ZERO jobs available, and telemarketing was the ONLY option I had that didn’t involve driving all the way to Salt Lake (which is a good 40 minute drive, and eats away at my gas bill), that paid well enough to be worth it. It’s so bad that the only other option is to move, which is exactly what I’m doing. > > Does this mean I’m an advocate for telemarketing? Hell no, I hate every aspect of it. I’m just saying that sometimes people have no choice but to do the unsavory, which is usually temporary, which explains the high turnover rates. Nobody stays very long, for good reason. > > Also, before getting irate at the actual telemarketers, get mad at the morons who ACTUALLY BUY SHIT OVER THE TELEPHONE. They’re the reason why telemarketing continues! > > Look, I hate telemarketing as much as the next person. However, instead of lashing out at the people who need the work, get mad at the corporations responsible. The unfortunates who work the phones, 95% of time, desperately need the money and have few options. \*\* I can sympathize with that sentiment. But I don’t think needing money precludes your responsibility to NOT BOTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE MINDING THEIR OWN BUSINESS. Telemarketing steals time from people, and time is money. Your needing to survive does not give you free rein to steal money from me, even if you do it legally. As for “lashing out,” I figure that with every second of a telemarketer’s time I use up without buying anything, I am making the business less profitable. Yeah, I know, I’m just wasting more of my time, but when I have free time on my hands, I may as well try save other people the aggravation of having their time wasted, especially if I can get some entertainment value out of it (thus reclaiming my lost time by adding quality to what’s left). And, whether or not telemarketing is ethically permissible (and I maintain that it isn’t), I feel no responsibility to suffer gladly those who deliberately bother me and interrupt my life. If fiscal necessity drives you to abandon all qualms regarding intrusions on others’ lives, then you obviously can’t afford to whine about how those people treat you. Oh, and I AM mad at the morons who buy from telemarketers. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/89 "2003-01-25T08:50:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Snooooopy \* > Yes, logic … is this your first time dealing with the concept? Ah, the rapid resort to abuse that marks out the telemarketer. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Snooooopy \* > There is, of course, a huge difference between taking an occasional telemarketing call and setting a computer to repeatedly autodial a number. The former is just the chance you take when you own a phone; the latter is deranged. Oh, what a sly dog you are. Telemarketing calls are ‘occasional’ and ‘a chance you take when you own a phone’, but repeatedly autodialling is ‘deranged’. Why don’t you just tell the autodialling computer “no” and hang up the phone? > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Snooooopy \* > Your analogies are lousy. But at least you’re already admitted that you’re not very good at them. Ah, the rapid resort to abuse that marks out the telemarketer. And of course telemarketers like you need things explained in simple (aggressive) terms. :rolleyes: > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Snooooopy \* > And where do you figure that I don’t understand what telemarketing feels like? Do you think I have a Magic Phone that doesn’t get these calls? Of course I get them – and instead of throwing a big fit about how unfair the world is, I just say “no” and hang up the phone. Oh, so you agree telemarketing is intrusive? > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Snooooopy \* > You never did answer MY question – and you do like to make a big deal when I fail to answer your questions, so turnabout is fair play. Why shouldn’t any member of the public be able to dial any publicly available number? You just described repeatedly autodialling is ‘deranged’. So that’s why a member of the public shouldn’t be able to repeatedly dial any publicly available number. Also if you, **as a member of the public** do harass me by repeatedly phoning me, I can call the police. And of course telemarketers aren’t phoning repeatedly as ‘members of the public’ (or don’t you know the difference there, either?). And members of the public don’t phone back incessantly when someone hangs up on them. Is that enough, or do you want to admit your analogy was worse than mine? > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Snooooopy \* > Yes, it does require sales skills. I don’t know where you get off defining what “real” sales skills are. Because I know what sales skills are, and you obviously don’t. As I said: My mate reached a senior sales position in a top company by hard work (not ‘reading a script’, which any fool can do): - he identified the target market - he kept records of contacts, and got to know them personally - he analysed market trends to see where sales opportunities would arise - he liaised with the developers of his company products to see where best to initially sell them - he helped organise product launches and upgrades by making sure the right customers were invited. Define what **you** call sales skills. Lets see how many of them telemarketers use. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/90 "2003-01-25T08:54:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Snooooopy \* > \*\*Wow, a simulpost with **glee**. I’m, like, honored or something. \*\* You telemarketers are easily amused aren’t you? :wally Don’t forget to tell us about what you think sales skills are. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/91 "2003-01-25T09:09:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by glee \* > \*\*Ah, the rapid resort to abuse that marks out the telemarketer. > And of course telemarketers like you need things explained in simple (aggressive) terms. :rolleyes: > \*\* For a guy who delights in abusing telemarketers, you sure are thin-skinned. When I’m nasty to you, it’s “abuse.” When you’re nasty to me, well, I guess that doesn’t count or something. \*\* > [@](#): > > You just described repeatedly autodialling is ‘deranged’. So that’s why a member of the public shouldn’t be able to repeatedly dial any publicly available number. > Also if you, **as a member of the public** do harass me by repeatedly phoning me, I can call the police. > And of course telemarketers aren’t phoning repeatedly as ‘members of the public’ (or don’t you know the difference there, either?). > And members of the public don’t phone back incessantly when someone hangs up on them. > Is that enough, or do you want to admit your analogy was worse than mine? > \*\* I didn’t say that anyone should be able to _repeatedly_ be able to dial a number. If a telemarketer calls more than once in defiance of your request to put you on their “Do not call list,” then you CAN call the police, which is what I would do if you put some autodialer on me. Guess we can include “unable to quote accurately” to your list of skills. Or is it “abusive” of me to note your inability to quote me accurately? ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/92 "2003-01-25T09:12:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by glee \* > \*\*Don’t forget to tell us about what you think sales skills are. \*\* You mean, I’m not a “real” salesman if I don’t do market research or organize product launches? Here I thought that sales just involved getting someone else to buy something (or, in my case, make a charitable donation to the Sierra Club). ---
**Author:** ![AfterAugust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AfterAugust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AfterAugust)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/93 "2003-01-25T09:25:31Z")
The scariest people to be noted are the telemarketers that LIKE what they do…there are a few…and they’re frightening. As for the sales skills question, there really isn’t any. It’s basically all luck. On any given day, I could make the same amount of sales, or even less, than the person next to me who talks in monotone, can barely speak english, and is eating a bag of chips while taking calls… That right there says a lot about the intelligence of this country. Sorry, I really hated that job… ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/94 "2003-01-25T09:28:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Snooooopy \* > For a guy who delights in abusing telemarketers, you sure are thin-skinned. When I’m nasty to you, it’s “abuse.” When you’re nasty to me, well, I guess that doesn’t count or something. 1. I said I left telemarketers waiting in silence. If you call that ‘abuse’, what do you call telemarketing? 2. You said right from the start that (bolding mine): “And I’m going to be **very happy** at the thought of having inconvenienced you **yet again**.” So you admitted that **telemarketing is an inconvenience** , and that **you really enjoy harassing people**. And you wonder why we are rude to you? > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Snooooopy \* > I didn’t say that anyone should be able to _repeatedly_ be able to dial a number. If a telemarketer calls more than once in defiance of your request to put you on their “Do not call list,” then you CAN call the police, which is what I would do if you put some autodialer on me. How many telemarketing companies are there? Whenever a new one starts up, they can legally phone everyone on the planet. Your implication was that telemarketers were just like a member of the public. Just imagine everyone who doesn’t like telemarketers phoning you precisely once. Then you’d begin to understand why we don’t like your attitude. And (at last) here is your definition of sales skills: > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Snooooopy \* > Here I thought that sales just involved getting someone else to buy something Sales does indeed ‘just involved getting someone else to buy something’. Of course that’s not what I asked. Typical telemarketer - never listens. **In order to sell, what skills do you need to apply?** ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/95 "2003-01-25T11:30:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Already in Use \* > **"It’s legal" is not a valid defense for telemarketing. The fact remains that it’s immoral to rudely interrupt people’s leisure time with unsolicited, intrusive advertising.** It’s immoral to call your published phone number and interrupt you for a sum total of 30 seconds – if you choose to answer the call, which is something wholly within your own control? Immoral? :eek: I really think you have a strongly overinflated notion of the seriousness of _receiving a phone call_. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by glee_ > **Is your number publically available? > What would you do if we set a computer to repeatedly auto-dial it? > (Perhaps then you would understand what telemarketing feels like…)** Again, that’s a ridiculous overstatement, but the answer to dealing with what you feel is excessive telemarketing calls is very simple: you control the problem on your end with the means available to you. 1.) Tell the company not to call you again. Keep a notepad by the phone and get the operator to give you the exact company name and address, if possible, who they’re selling for, the operator’s own name and operator number. If you’re in the U.S., you can tell the operator that you have recorded the information and that if you receie any further sales contact by their company you will invoke your right to monetary damages against the company pursuant to US law. (Do a Google search on collecting damages from telemarketers to see examples of people who have done just that.) If they call again, **don’t let them get away with it**. 2.) If there are times at which you simply do not wish to be bothered by a ringing phone, shut the phone off or do not answer it. You can always make those decisions, and then you absolutely will not be bothered and it will be on your own terms. 3.) Get Caller ID and other privacy-ensuring devices as offered by your telecom provider and use their functionality. If a call comes up as “Out of Area” or “Unavailable” then _don’t answer it_! No legitimate business call will appear with those designations. (Though certain businesses have “Private Number” designations for various and understandable reasons.) 4.) Join your state’s Do Not Call list, which will automatically and immediately cause all telemarketing that reaches you to be illegal and punishable with a fine payable to you. 27 states currently have such a list – [you can find more information about the list and see if your state has one here](http://www.the-dma.org/government/donotcalllists.shtml). If your state (or country) doesn’t have one yet, contact your state attorney general (or whatever legal authority is in your area) to inquire as to how to protect yourself and to request a do not call list be initiated in your area. 5.) Have your number unpublished **and be vigilant about what companies have your phone number and what their privacy policies are**. If you give away your phone number without being sure that you’ve opted out of having your personal information shared or that the company policy is not to share information, you will likely end up on telemarketing lists. Your information is yours, you bear some responsibility for controlling its dissemination and (mis)use. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by glee_ > **Also if you, as a member of the public do harass me by repeatedly phoning me, I can call the police.** Harassment by phone is a defined, illegal act. The word harassment does not attach until the party in question is calling someone repeatedly without a legitimate purpose and without regard to the recepient’s wishes, (often, when speaking of statutory definitons, explicitly stated wishes) that the calls end. If you were to call the police and make a complaint of phone harassment, the police are going to be quite useless to you if they find out that you’re complaining about one call from a company each day, or even two, which are made with a legitimate purpose, and a sales call is legitimate whether you like it or not. In this country, they’re going to be even less useful to you because all legitimate telemarketing activity can and will be stopped with a simple demand and in the majority of states, you can opt out of all telemarketing with a single toll-free phone call or by filling out a simple web form. It’s simply **not** harassment, not a criminal act, as much as the rabid (and rapidly spirally into illogical raving) anti-telemarketers would like to pretend that it is. Given the number of remedies to the problem, I’m beginning to believe that some people simply enjoy having something to complain about and a group of people they’re free to take their frustrations out upon by treating them badly on the phone. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/96 "2003-01-25T11:43:29Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by glee_ > **In order to sell, what skills do you need to apply?** Persuasion, quick thinking, fast talking. The same skills you need to sell cars or appliances. Maybe you don’t think those are “real” sales jobs either? Telemarketing is more than reading off a script. At the place where I worked, you could easily tell who was a great telemarketer and who was shitty by looking at their statistics. There were guys who would get 10 rejections for every sale they made, and other guys who would only get 2. It’s not luck - it’s about building rapport, projecting confidence, being familiar with what you’re selling and with customer responses and questions, and picking up on the customer’s state of mind. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/97 "2003-01-25T12:24:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by glee \* > \*\*1. I said I left telemarketers waiting in silence. If you call that ‘abuse’, what do you call telemarketing? > > 1. You said right from the start that (bolding mine): > > “And I’m going to be **very happy** at the thought of having inconvenienced you **yet again**.” > > So you admitted that **telemarketing is an inconvenience** , and that **you really enjoy harassing people**. > And you wonder why we are rude to you? > \*\* Yeah, I do wonder why, given that so many people are able to say a simple “no” to me without being rude. I explained that earlier. Typical anti-telemarketer – can’t read. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/98 "2003-01-25T15:21:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Snooooopy \* > \*\*If you have a phone number, and it’s publicly available, why shouldn’t any member of the public be able to dial it? \*\* My number _isn’t_ publicly available. Autodialers manage to get around that fact. AGAIN- why do we have to pay money for you to NOT do something to us? Wouldn’t it be easier and more polite for you to just _not do it in the first place?_ You have a computer, and it’s connected to the Internet. Does that mean that I have the legal right to upload a trojan to it, so it’ll do what I want? Of course not. That would be illegal. But according to your logic… And hey… remember when Colorado was trying to reach people to tell them to evacuate, when the forest fires were threatening? A huge percentage of people couldn’t be reached- because the Reverse 911 system registered as “unavailable” over caller ID! In other words, the annoyance created by telemarketers actually _threatened lives_! Can I assume that you believe that email spam is a valid and perfectly acceptable form of advertisement? After all, they do it to everyone, and everyone they send it to has a “publicly available” email address (even if, as in my case, they try hard as hell to make sure that only friends know that address). What was the latest estimate? Something like 30% of all email is spam, at this point- once again, costing us money. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/99 "2003-01-25T15:41:58Z")
Wow… I just couldn’t resist answering these suggestions. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tlw \* > **1.) Tell the company not to call you again. Keep a notepad by the phone and get the operator to give you the exact company name and address, if possible, who they’re selling for, the operator’s own name and operator number. If you’re in the U.S., you can tell the operator that you have recorded the information and that if you receie any further sales contact by their company you will invoke your right to monetary damages against the company pursuant to US law. (Do a Google search on collecting damages from telemarketers to see examples of people who have done just that.) If they call again, don’t let them get away with it.** So the public has to invest effort and time to prevent you from doing something to them. Nice. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tlw \* > **2.) If there are times at which you simply do not wish to be bothered by a ringing phone, shut the phone off or do not answer it. You can always make those decisions, and then you absolutely will not be bothered and it will be on your own terms.** And don’t worry about emergency phone calls, either. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tlw \* > **3.) Get Caller ID and other privacy-ensuring devices as offered by your telecom provider and use their functionality. If a call comes up as “Out of Area” or “Unavailable” then _don’t answer it_! No legitimate business call will appear with those designations. (Though certain businesses have “Private Number” designations for various and understandable reasons.)** Uh, no. When I was looking for work, I had to answer the phone EVERY TIME IT RANG, as a lot of the companies and recruiters I was hoping to hear from came across as “Out of Area”. Also, certain cell phones in my area come across as “Unavailable”. Also, I’ve noticed that lately many telemarketers are starting to allow their phone numbers to come across on Caller ID- they’ve figured out that people don’t answer “Out of Are” and “Unavailable” in an effort to not be called by telemarketers! > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tlw \* > **4.) Join your state’s Do Not Call list, which will automatically and immediately cause all telemarketing that reaches you to be illegal and punishable with a fine payable to you. 27 states currently have such a list – [you can find more information about the list and see if your state has one here](http://www.the-dma.org/government/donotcalllists.shtml). If your state (or country) doesn’t have one yet, contact your state attorney general (or whatever legal authority is in your area) to inquire as to how to protect yourself and to request a do not call list be initiated in your area.** In other words, we have to legally enjoin you to not call us- and it costs us money, though, admittedly, not much. Still, though- why do we have to pay for it AT ALL? Shouldn’t telemarketing companies- the very companies we’re trying to avoid being called by- have to bear this cost? > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tlw \* > **5.) Have your number unpublished and be vigilant about what companies have your phone number and what their privacy policies are. If you give away your phone number without being sure that you’ve opted out of having your personal information shared or that the company policy is not to share information, you will likely end up on telemarketing lists. Your information is yours, you bear some responsibility for controlling its dissemination and (mis)use.** Autodialers. Most telemarketers, in my experience, don’t actually use the phone book anymore. They just dial numbers in sequence, to see who they can reach. Sooo… have an unlisted phone number, people you might legitimately want to talk to won’t be able to find you in the phone book (old schoolfriends, etc.), and telemarketers STILL get around it. And until telemarketing is made illegal, telemarketing companies will do ANYTHING THEY CAN to get around whatever tactics the public uses to avoid being called. Of course, telemarketing lobbyists are doing all they can to prevent this from happening. This, in my opinion, is the very definition of a loathsome business. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/100 "2003-01-25T16:25:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lightnin’ \* > \*\*You have a computer, and it’s connected to the Internet. Does that mean that I have the legal right to upload a trojan to it, so it’ll do what I want? Of course not. That would be illegal. But according to your logic… > \*\* Did you think this through before you typed it in? Uploading a destructive trojan and making a simple phone call aren’t in the same BALLPARK. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331.md?page=6)