Californians can pre-register for the national do not call list here:

http://nocall.doj.state.ca.us/

 

I've tried this a couple times... Never gotten very far, the girl usually hangs up. Mission accomplished, I guess.

 

Nobody? The success rate has to be near zero.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by WestSideBilly
[B]

Nobody?

 

I've heard that putting me on their "Do Not Call List" works better than "take me off the list".

 

There is no "take me off the list." The only way to stop receiving calls is to ask to be put on their "do not call" list. Currently each telemarketing firm maintains it's own list so it's difficult to get on ALL of the lists. The national do not call list will resolve this problem unless the telemarketing firms are successful in challenging the law in court.

 

Thanks!! I just pre-registered

Top 10 things to do to a telemarketer:

10. When they ask "How are you today?" Tell them! "I'm so glad you asked because no one these days seems to care, and I have all these problems; my arthritis is acting up, my eyelashes are sore, my dog just died..."

9. If they say they're John Doe from XYZ Company, ask them to spell their name. Then ask them to spell the company name. Then ask them where it is located. Continue asking them personal questions or questions about their company for as long as necessary.

8. Cry out in surprise, "Judy! Is that you? Oh my God! Judy, how have you been?" Hopefully, this will give Judy a few brief moments of pause as she tries to figure out where the h-l she could know you from.

7. If MCI calls trying to get you to sign up for the Family and Friends Plan, reply, in as SINISTER a voice as you can, "I don't have any friends ....would you be my friend?"

6. If they want to loan you money, tell them you just filed for bankruptcy and you could sure use some money.

5. Tell the telemarketer you are on "home incarceration" and ask if they could bring you a case of beer and some chips.

4. After the telemarketer gives their spiel, ask him/her to marry you. When they get all flustered, tell them that you could not just give your credit card number to a complete stranger.

3. Tell the telemarketer you are busy at the moment and ask them if they will give you their HOME phone number so you can call them back. When the telemarketer explains that they cannot give out their HOME number, you say "I guess you don't want anyone bothering you at home, right?" The telemarketer will agree and you say, "Now you know how I feel!" Say good bye - and Hang up.

2. Insist that the caller is really your buddy Leon, playing a joke. "Come on Leon, cut it out! Seriously, Leon, how's your momma?"

1. And first and foremost: Tell them to talk VERY SLOWLY, because you want to write EVERY WORD down

 

My dad once said, "I let my son handle all of my financial matters and gave the phone to me.

I was something like 18 months old at the time.

I just found out that a close friend of mine does this for spending money. She moved to Texas for college.

That really upset me.

 

Saying "I'm not interested" never seems to shut them up. So instead, when they ask if they can speak to Mr. So and So, I just say "sure, hang on a second while I get him". And then I either hang up, or I just leave the phone off the hook for a really long time. I'm guessing if they think someone is actually going to speak to them they'll wait for a while and at least then you're wasting as much of their time as they are yours

Peter

 

Nobody has admitted that they buy stuff from telemarketers. Maybe we're in the wrong demographic, but there are obviously idiots out there who buy crap from them or this industry would have been bankrupt years ago.