What's the best way to deal with telemarketers who call you at home?

Question

I have never, nor will I ever, purchase anything from a telemarketer -- the fact is, they are *intruding* on my personal space in their attempts to sell me something, and their sloppy attempts at pronouncing my name *really* rubs me the wrong way - basically, they're all take and no give.

What do you think might be the best way to handle these calls without making my blood pressure go up, and in the process, ruining another person's day - just because I don't like the nature of their job or the way they go about doing it, doesn't mean I deserve to lose my equilibrium over them.

Any ingenious ideas?

I'm just busting a gut just reading some of the ideas! Basically, you've given me plenty friendly "ammunition" to choose from but how in the world am I going to pick just one to serve as the best? It's going to take some thought. Greatly appreciate the generosity of spirit you've all shared here with me - thanks!!

With so many responses to choose from I had to organize each into a group of similar responses, which I did.
I could be inventive, coy, rude, lie, truthful, or practical. I can't be bothered with coy, as it would require me to 'play' their game. I don't want to be rude, even mildly - I find it disruptive to my system. Lying is another form of coyness and equally disruptive, because it is insincere. Also, I am not a US resident, however, Canadians have similar nocall organizations which don't make much of a difference when all's been said and done. One of you helpfully offered info and a link for software but this turns out to not be a practical solution for me, afterall.

In the end, there is no one ingenious solution, as one of you already pointed out. So my options in the end are practicality coupled with truthfulness. This narrows my decision down significantly.
Thanks to all of you who took the time to share your ideas. I've used them all at one time or another in the past.

Answer 1

You can't ignore them; they'll just call again.

You can't be funny with them; they'll just call again.

You can't yell at them; they'll just call again.

The only way to handle them is -- as soon as you can get a word in -- say "I'm not interested and please take me off your list."

By law, they have to take you off their list. Then they won't call again.

Answer 2

I use call screening software. You just need to plug your phone into your pc and install the software. (It even works with Voiceover IP).

So if someone calls that you don't want to speak with, you can block them going forward. You can also block private and annonymus callers.

The software has a free trial and if you buy it's only $30.00 (one time fee).

Phone companies can give you the option of call block, but most charge you on a monthly basis.

The National Do Not Call Registry is ok...but it's not great (there are ways to get around it, like if you have given one company and it's affiliates approval to contact you. They can also call out of the phone book as long as it's not on a call list...) and it takes a while to get your number added, so for the next few months you will still get telemarketers. Hence why I suggested the software.

See, I'm having problems with this one jerk constantly misdialing and calling my house by mistake at Midnight! Since Vonage doesn't offer call block, I had to do something.

The link is below.

Best wishes!

Answer 3

Besides the posting our numbers on National Do not Call Registry I occasionally turn telemarketer calls into entertainment for whole family. Having foreign accent I have easy time to play dumb.
- In some instances I tell that I can't make this decision and the person would have to talk to my husband. When asked for husband, I answer really slow and with great accent and expression:- ohh, he is not home, he comes and goes just like waves. After little silence comes o'k and the person hangs up.
-Occasionally I ask to explain several simple terms like what is the fridge etc and giving dumbest possible answers to each question. In one occasion I could hear that my call was connected to whole telemarketing room, person on the other end could barely hold herself from not laughing out loud, so did I
- Asking to spell things that I can look them up in the dictionary works well too, sorry, they have to wait for me to use the dictionary (little smiley would come in handy here)
-Telemarketing calls from India- no problem- just ask to repeat each sentence at least ten times until pronounciation becomes loud, slow and clear
Bottom line- who likes to waste time and money on nonsense customers? If everyone will start wasting telemarketers time there will be no point to telemarketing.

Answer 4

You can handel these calls like so: Start by taking a deep breath befor picking up the phone. From there you can grab a pencil and ask what company is this? What is your address and write down the phone number? Now that you have this info it is also important to record these numbers in a log so you can check each call you receive and have a tape recorder for the next time they call if they don't get the message the first time around when you tell them how you are not interested in there products. From there you can take them to court with proof of harassment. I know this well I also know call company's about junk mail at my address. Well this we be very helpful to you Your Welcome and Good Luck with the Issue!

Answer 5

I've simply tried everything! I've been so rude that I've actually tried "calling them back" to apologize! Didn't work ...

Anyway, I've decided to tell them like it is. They're only human! But I'm nice about it. Some don't give up there, so I'm forced to just hang up, but that rarely happens.

Just say, "Look, I know you're just doing a job, but I'm not interested in doing any kind of business over the phone. Do you have anything you can send me in the mail (brochures, etc) that I can look over at my own convenience?" Call them by their name, and thank them for their time (Thanks John) ... After all, you know that 99% of the calls they make end up being rude and ugly ... your one "nice" call will probably make their day .... that's a good feeling, even if they are mobile salesmen!

Answer 6

You know what? Once when I was staying in corporate lodging, I got a phone call from a telemarketer. When I told them that I was in temp quarters, they politely terminated the conversation.

I've been using it ever since no matter where I live! LOL

Right now I live in Germany, so in the rare event that I get a call, I just act like I don't understand German. If they speak English, I will resort to plan A. :-)

Answer 7

If I am not in a hurry when they call, I get them to take the time to go through all of the details with me, I ask questions, ask them to repeat parts, in short I act very interested. Once they get through the whole thing, I offer them a price of about 10% of what they are trying to sell for. For example if they want to sell me new aluminum siding for $3500.00, after keeping them on the phone for a while, I'll offer them about $350.

I once kept an MCI person, who was trying to get me to switch long distance providers, on the phone for 40 minutes. At the end of the time, I said, "OK, here is what I need; I need you to guarantee me a monthly service credit of $100." They said that they couldn't do that, I said "Sorry, then I am not switching."

Be careful with this though, because every once in a great while, if you don't name too low of a price, they will match the offer you propose.

Answer 8

I don't think there is any one ingenious answer to dealing with telemarketers. Depending on where you live, there may be laws or do-not-call lists that you can use against them. Or just get a "caller ID" feature installed on your phone so you can identify telemarketers and not answer their calls. If you do find yourself on the line with one, be polite but firm; take down the name and company of the person to whom you are talking, and tell him or her that you do not wish to be contacted ever again.

Answer 9

Well, since you dont want to be rude just do what i do right off, when they start their sales pitch simply cut in and say that you dont own any credit cards or checking accounts. They may not believe you, but it will get them to leave you alone. You can get added to that no call list, i'm not sure how effective it is since i only own a cell phone and you dont get a lot of sales calls on those anyway. typically the no credit card things gets rid of them,but if not i guess you may just have so say you arent interested or just hang up. I'm sure they are used to people hanging up on them

Answer 10

It reminds me of the one Seinfeld episode when Jerry receives a phone call from a telemarketer. He says to the person on the phone: "hey, you just caught me as I was trying to walk out my door, why don't you give me your home phone number and I will call you later on tonite. *then he pauses and continues on with* oh you don't want me to call you at home? Now you know how I feel" and he hangs up! Hilarious! Ever since I saw that show I've been hoping some telemarketer would call me just so I could try it out and see if it works!

Answer 11

The only one that has worked for me is; I ask for the billing address of the the telemarketing firm because I get $500 an hour for consultation calls and they have just racked up a $150 bill. And yes I have sent the bill to some of them; didn't get paid though ;-)