Another way: Some evenings when I get home, and if there’s nothing good on tv, I tie up the phone line for hours by staying online visiting all my favorite sites. Now that I’ve found The Straight Dope, that’ll make it even easier.
I just have remember to get up every few minutes to stretch my legs and walk around.
For me, caller ID works perfect.
Dont recognise the number? then dont answer the phone.
If it is someone we know calling from a strange number they will leave a message on the answering machine (we can hear them leave the message)…
Does anyone know if Canada has a “do not call” list?
I have a name that people can never pronounce properly upon reading it, so when a telemarketer calls up and asks to speak to Mr or Mrs Mispronounced Name, we would say ‘I’m sorry, there’s no one here by that name.’ they always object initially but what can they say? I think they must take you off their list at that point.
I think you can put whatever name you want in the phone book, so if you’re not fussy about your friends being able to find it you can put in a fake name, or your maiden name, or something … then you can tell right away that they’re not your friend when they call, and you won’t have to lie to them.
90% of the telemarketing calls we receive here now never get through to us, even though we don’t have caller ID.
What we do is answer the phone, say “hello” loud and clear, and if there’s no answer just hang up. It’s a telemarketer calling by using an auto-dialer and for some reason it takes a good while for them to realize I’m here and say “hello”.
Honestly, neither me nor anyone I live with has talked to a telemarketer in a good while. Maybe one or two a month get through to speaking to us.
One time it did backfire - it was my grandpa calling. But that’s why we make sure we say “hello” quite loud so we know the other party can hear.
This doesn’t get you off call lists but it sure makes dealing with telemarketers alot easier.
My boyfriend’s mother SWEARS that if you let the phone ring 4 times, the telemarketer will hang up, so if you really want to screen the call, wait for the 5th ring.
I guess it works for the automated callers, but the human ones can be quite persistant. I answered the phone the other day after 13 rings (don’t ask), and it was a TELEMARKETER!!! Grrrrrr.
My boyfriend just shouts gibberish at them or talks like Cary Grant.
TELEMARKETER: I’d like to make you a wonderful offer.
HARBORWOLF: BAKLAVAH!!!
or
TELEMARKETER: Do you want to buy blah blah blah
HARBORWOLF (as Cary Grant): Hello? Hello? I do say that you’re being very rude. Hello? What the devil. . . Good bye.