I saw a commercial about a product called a Telezapper. This device is supposed to eliminate telemarketing calls.
The way it ostensibly works is that when you get a telemarketing call, this thing sends a signal to the computer that dials the number and tells it to delete your phone number from its list. So you never get a call from them again.
Does this actually work? It sounds very bogus to me.
You’ve probably heard the three tones you get when you call a number that is “disconnected or no longer in service.” The Telezapper sends the first of these beeps out every time your phone is picked up by you or your answering machine. The predictive dialers used by most telemarketers hears this sound, hangs up, and notates your number as not in service.
The problem with it is that there is nothing to stop predictive dialers from changing their strategy, for instance not hanging up until it hears all three tones. Or waiting an extra couple of seconds and listen for a human voice. The Telezapper is also not effective against calls from companies that don’t use predictive dialing systems.
Personally, I just say “No thanks, and put me on your do not call list”, which is just as effective.
You can also get the three tone signal online and copy it onto a tape recorder or MP3 file and play it when you pick up the phone or make it part of your voicemail intro, or all sorts of stuff that prevents you from having to shell out the 40-50$ on the product.
This doesn’t work with all autodialers. When I was a telemarketer, the machine weeded out busy signals, but there were days when we’d just sit for hours listening to “this number has been disconnected” recording and telling the computer not to call that number back.