I dont answer the phone, but on occassion even when it says out of area or I dont have time to look (cause its in the other room) I pick it up anyways. So how to get rid of them besides just hanging up? Any creative ways you have out there?

1) I usually come up with an odd number, say 37 or 43 and tell the person, "Hi, could you remove me from your list, I have averaged, not totalled, but averaged 43 calls from telemarkers this week." I usually get an, "oh! will do, and right away!"

2) Got a call from MCI - can't stand those people. He asked me why I went with AT&T, and I merely responded, "well, me and my roommate tallied up how many times AT&T and MCI called us up and we went with the one that called the least." It took him a second to get it, and the conversation ended with him saying, "talk to you next week!"

 

i just say "no thanks" and just hang up

 

I usually say that I am not the owner of the house or whatever and hang up....

 

when i pick up the phone, and if it's one of those ad., usually there's 2- 3 sec. pause even after i say "hello."
i hang up the phone right away at that time.

 

Just say you don't have an application to whatever their selling. IE, if they want to clean you carpets say you don't have any; buy stocks, say you're bankrupt. They will understand and it's kinder than saying #$@@# you!

 

Whenever I hear a voice I don't recognize at the onest of the conversation, I just let them know I'm not the person they're looking for (even though I probably am) and this person isn't home. Then I ask them if they'd like to leave a message - this gives me the chance to identify if its a telemarketer or not. When it becomes clear its just another telemarketing call and not a friend of my wife's, some acquaintance or otherwise random person who actually has a reason for calling me, then I just tell them that the person they're calling for is in the process of moving and that's why he's not home. It seems to work so far.

 

whatever happened to... "no, I'm an officer on duty here from the coroners office and well... I hate to say it but the person you asked for is...."

 

They have electronic devices now that you hook up to your phone which emit numerical codes that fool the telemarketer's line into thinking that your number is invalid. From that point on, the computer will remove YOUR phone number from their random calling list because they think the line is a dead one. Gradually, the telemarketing calls will decrease, and eventually you'll have none.

Gotta love ingenuity.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Psicho54
[B]They have electronic devices now that you hook up to your phone which emit numerical codes that fool the telemarketer's line into thinking that your number is invalid.

 

I believe the unit rings slightly longer, so if it's NOT a telemarketer, the phone will ring longer and you will know it's someone you know who is trying to call you. Also, after awhile your family/friends would know to wait longer for you to pick up. Or, you could tell them before hand.

Either way, this is probably the easiest, least time consuming way to get rid of telemarketers, completely.