# 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:** 3\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![fortytwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f9ae1b/32.png) [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2005, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-charity-telemarketers/327420/61 "2005-10-25T14:18:38Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > I know I could just ignore them when I see their number on the Caller ID, but they called me this morning at 7:15am!! Apart from the annoyance of having cold callers in the first place this would really wind me up. Normally a call at that time of day would be a big worry for me and I would assume some kind of an emergency. I don’t think I could be polite to a cold caller under those circumstances. We have the TPS (our version of DNC) here and all reputable companies generally stick to it, but there are loopholes, usually involving calls from other countries. I think the TPS register applies to charities as well because I’ve never had a call from one since I signed on with the TPS. My method of dealing with the recorded calls from abroad is to just put the phone down and go and do something else for 5 minutes and hope they miss me out next time. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2005, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-charity-telemarketers/327420/62 "2005-10-25T15:28:19Z")
[QUOTE=kambuckta] > [@guizot](#): > > Sorry if this has already been addressed in this thread. But these organizations use something that is called “predictive dialing.” …QUOTE] > > Many charitable orgs do NOT use predictive dialing, FYI. > > I know that MY fingers are tired at the end of a shift of dialing so many numbers. > > Please quit with the generalisations in this thread. It is a GQ thread afterall, and some factual, decent responses are called for. Not bullcrap like has alredy been spewed out. > > :rolleyes: Okay. Whatever you say. Nobody uses predictive dialing. There is no such thing as a zapper. And I’m very sorry about your fingers. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2005, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-charity-telemarketers/327420/63 "2005-10-25T18:11:09Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > Sorry if this has already been addressed in this thread. But these organizations use something that is called “predictive dialing.” It’s basically a computer that waits until somebody answers, and then connects to a person in the dial center. The best solution is something that I found here on the SDMB, called–I think–the “Zapper.” It’s some knind of device that transmits a sound to the the predictive dialer machine that causes it to perceive your number as a “no go.” Then it removes your number from the system, and they never call you again. You don’t have to do anything; it’s all automatic. When a legitimate call comes in whoever calls you can’t hear the tone. Does that make any sense? It’s the [TeleZapper](http://www.telezapper.com/). When it’s a live person, of course, the gadget has no effect. I have warned charity solicitors by telling them that I will evaluate their request in the context of my overall financial situation at the appropriate time, that I will never donate in response to telephone solicitations, and that they must send me information in the mail in order to be considered. I also stopped donating to one charity because the caller actually became rude upon receipt of that speech. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-charity-telemarketers/327420.md?page=3)