# How to get rid of "charity" telemarketers? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 22, 2005, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-charity-telemarketers/327420 "2005-10-22T13:38:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-charity-telemarketers/327420/21 "2005-10-22T17:35:02Z")
LOL - that’s priceless (but I don’t think I’d be convincing enough) my most recent conversation me: Hello? him: my I speak to Any? me: who’s calling? him: Hi Any. (now, mind you, I have NOT identified myself as the person he has called) I am calling from (creditcard company) [ramble] (some words) [/ramble] me: what are you selling? (as in get to the freakin point, is this about my bill or what!) him: oh no, Any, I just want to tell you about a special offer for our valued custom… me: (not letting him finish) sounds like a sales pitch to me. (click) Where I work, our customers may request a DNT (telemarket) encoding on their account, but we do still call them for billing issues (which they seem to resent - I mean, how dare we ask for fair payment of services provided!) ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-charity-telemarketers/327420/22 "2005-10-22T17:36:14Z")
wow - that filled up fast - :smack: my “LOL” was for **Stranger** ’s solution (silly me - I should have quoted) ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-charity-telemarketers/327420/23 "2005-10-22T17:37:51Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > wow - that filled up fast - :smack: > my “LOL” was for **Stranger** ’s solution (silly me - I should have quoted) DAMN! :smakc::smack::smack: I meant **LiveOnAPlane** ’s solution Where the f@#& is my brain today? ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-charity-telemarketers/327420/24 "2005-10-22T17:55:35Z")
> [@Joey P](#): > > I haven’t had any of those calls in years (since I had a landline). The last time I got one I told the guy I was in college, renting, and didn’t have any money to spare (all true) > –So can I count on you for $20.00 > -No, I’m not going to be donating anything, I can barely cover groceries right now > –I’ll just put you down for $10.00 > -NO, I’m not going to donate ANYTHING > –How about I just mark you down for $5.00 and you’ll get a bill in the mail that you can pay from. > -NO!! I’m not going to pay it. Click > > Couldn’t believe how persistant he was. You’d think after the first no, he would let it go. He could have been rejected by two more people in the time he was on the phone with me. I am always amazed that people stay on the phone this long I would have said no and hung up after the request for $20. I don’t know if that counts as being rude in this discussion to other posters but I don’t think it rude. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-charity-telemarketers/327420/25 "2005-10-22T19:49:53Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > DAMN! :smakc::smack::smack: I meant **LiveOnAPlane** ’s solution > > Where the f@#& is my brain today? “Hi, Any! Can you spare a minute while I tell you about our special offer for a new memory aid program, only available to a few specially selected discerning people like yourself?” 😃 ::: flees ::: ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-charity-telemarketers/327420/26 "2005-10-22T20:49:22Z")
I’ve seriously gotten into the habit of telling them that I have passed away. Me: Hello? Them: Is Mr. Hampshire available? Me: No, he died last week. Them: I’m sorry to hear that. Thank you (click). While it has gotten them off the line quicker it unfortunately hasn’t stopped the number of calls. And I even sometime get this: Me: Hello? Them: Is Mr. Hampshire available? Me: No, he died last week. Them: Well, can I talk to the current head of household then? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-charity-telemarketers/327420/27 "2005-10-22T21:24:37Z")
What kills me is that this idiot (and it’s always the same guy) KNOWS I’m going to be rude and yet he figures that if he calls enough, I’ll break down and give him money. ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-charity-telemarketers/327420/28 "2005-10-22T21:28:18Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > I’ve seriously gotten into the habit of telling them that I have passed away. > > Me: Hello? > > Them: Is Mr. Hampshire available? > > Me: No, he died last week. > > Them: I’m sorry to hear that. Thank you (click). > While it has gotten them off the line quicker it unfortunately hasn’t stopped the number of calls. And I even sometime get this: > > Me: Hello? > > Them: Is Mr. Hampshire available? > > Me: No, he died last week. > > Them: Well, can I talk to the current head of household then? My BIL played a great trick on the telemarketers when he was 10 or 11. They called during the day (when he and his brother were home alone), and asked to speak to his mother when he answered. BIL: (sad voice) She’s dead. TM: Oh, I’m sorry. Is your father home? BIL: \ No, he’s dead too. TM: I’m so sorry. Do you have a brother or a guardian or someone there with you? BIL: No. \ They’re all dead. \ They actually got a visit from the cops, checking on an abandoned child report. I am so going to train my daughter to do this when she gets older. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-charity-telemarketers/327420/29 "2005-10-22T22:38:25Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Now I keep getting calls from organizations claiming to represent various police force funds. I’ve tried not answering when they call, telling them the person they want doesn’t live here, asking them nicely to stop calling me necause I’m not interested, etc. Nothing works. Simply tell them that you allocate funds for charitable contributions at the first of the year and there is nothing left over for solicitors. Say thank you and hang up. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-charity-telemarketers/327420/30 "2005-10-22T23:46:16Z")
Telling them “I don’t respond to phone solicitations, thank you” & hanging up has actually worked for me. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-charity-telemarketers/327420/31 "2005-10-22T23:48:51Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > Telling them “I don’t respond to phone solicitations, thank you” & hanging up has actually worked for me. See post #7. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-charity-telemarketers/327420/32 "2005-10-23T01:15:36Z")
I don’t know what company you’re using for phone service, but Verizon has an option called “Caller Intercept” which is an add-on to Caller ID whereby unknown or anonymous callers automatically get blocked. They have to record a message identifying themselves, and that’s what you hear when your phone rings (if they don’t do this, your phone never rings at all). You can also turn this feature on for all incoming callers who don’t type in a password number (like 2468) and then only supply your friends and family with this password. Personally, the DNC registry combined with Caller ID/Caller Intercept has just about completely stopped me from getting cold calls from sellers and most charities (I do still get “survey” phone calls). What’s annoying me now are **spam text messages to my cell phone** , offering loans, medications and telling me to “call 1-900-xxxx-yyyy to claim \”. I have to pay for them!! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-charity-telemarketers/327420/33 "2005-10-23T01:41:03Z")
> [@robardin](#): > > I don’t know what company you’re using for phone service, but Verizon has an option called “Caller Intercept” which is an add-on to Caller ID whereby unknown or anonymous callers automatically get blocked. I can get that from Bell South, but it’s an extra $6.95/month. I shouldn’t have to pay to keep these bastards away. ---
**Author:** ![boofuu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@boofuu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boofuu)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-charity-telemarketers/327420/34 "2005-10-23T03:05:51Z")
I used to work for a phone survey company. Sometimes the cute tricks people play only backfire on them. My co-workers and I would make remarks about funny and deceptive answering machine messages, cranky callers, things of that ilk. Keep in mind, holding the phone and “wasting” the caller’s time is always really doing that. I loved when someone did this. I would let the call sit and take a break even though it still looked like I had a call on the line. “Rude” callers, loved them. I would play the game for as long as I could, sometimes getting my supervisor or co-workers to listen in. I even got offered a ticket to California once, since I sounded like such a with-it girl. Ahh. The glory days. The easiest thing, really: politely say, “Please do not call this number again and put a note in your computer that I do not want to be bothered.” If they persist, ask for their supervisor and file the complaint then. That tends to do it. Fact is, we get a finite list of names and as long as you did not OUTRIGHT STATE “do not call me ever again” we would keep calling, and not even with hopes of converting you. Those lists can be expensive and when we ran through names we would go through them again and again (especially on projects from government agencies). Not fun for you, not fun for me. Just don’t do the air horn thing; that is just plain wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-charity-telemarketers/327420/35 "2005-10-23T03:10:30Z")
> [@boofuu](#): > > Just don’t do the air horn thing; that is just plain wrong. So you tell me that being rude makes it a game for them and then you say this? It’d be worth busting an eardrum or two. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-charity-telemarketers/327420/36 "2005-10-23T03:11:55Z")
> [@boofuu](#): > > The easiest thing, really: politely say, “Please do not call this number again and put a note in your computer that I do not want to be bothered.” If they persist, ask for their supervisor and file the complaint then. That tends to do it. No, it doesn’t always work. This idiot won’t let me finish the sentence before he hangs up. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-charity-telemarketers/327420/37 "2005-10-23T03:24:24Z")
How about agreeing to contribute, just so you can get the name and address of the firm? At least then you can send a letter demanding they remove you from their lists. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-charity-telemarketers/327420/38 "2005-10-23T03:25:58Z")
> [@Dewey Finn](#): > > How about agreeing to contribute, just so you can get the name and address of the firm? At least then you can send a letter demanding they remove you from their lists. That would probably get me on a list of suckers that’ll get sold to more scum just like them. No, I’ll take my chances. Now, where can I get an airhorn? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-charity-telemarketers/327420/39 "2005-10-23T03:58:48Z")
You may not like this, but I found this statement on an FCC website: “Tax-exempt non-profit organizations are not required to keep do-not-call lists under the FCC’s rules.” ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2005, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-charity-telemarketers/327420/40 "2005-10-24T16:04:13Z")
We’ve had great luck with the “I lost my job a month ago, I’m losing my house next week…” They rarely want to try to get any money out of me after that. Sadly, the first part was once true, and the prompting for that response. Thankfully, the 2nd part never was true. -Butler [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-charity-telemarketers/327420.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-charity-telemarketers/327420.md?page=3)