How do I stop telemarketers from bugging me?!?

Question

We're at our wit's end. They can call 12 times a day sometimes, and sometimes as late as 10 or 11 p.m.! It's got so bad I don't even check the phone sometimes to see who it is, because 19 times out of 20 it's a telemarketer. We've tried answering the phone (but hundreds of times there was nobody there, and the machine hung up on us) and waiting till we got a human, then asking them to take us off their list. Most of the calls stopped for 2 weeks, then different numbers started calling us.

We've considered eliminating our phone switching to a cell phone because it's so bad. We don't give our number out, except when a store like Home Depot asks for it- they can't sell our number can they? What can we do besides buying one of those scrambler machines? Will getting an unlisted number help?

We're having a baby soon and I am going to start LOSING IT if I get 12 telemarketer calls a day...lol

thank you

Answer 1

A few people have recommenced the National "Do Not Call" Registry.  And that is effective as mentioned.  A few people I know have also purchased the "Tele Zapper" http://www.telezapper.com/ which is quite effective too!  You plug it into any phone jack (or between your phone & jack).  When you pick up your phone (any phone on the circuit) a tone is emitted that "fools" the telemarketing system into thinking the phone number is no longer valid.  Check out the website.  It explains it more detail.  If $40 is too much to spend for peace and quiet, be obnoxiously rude ;-)

Answer 2

Annoying, hey?

The best way to deal with telemarketers not only prevents them from calling again, but will also remove some stress.

This is a proven technique.

When the telemarketer calls, see if its automated or a real person.

If its automated, just hang up. Theres nothing that can be done.

A real person? Interrupt them and say : "Wait, wait, wait. Can I please have your home phone number so I can call you at dinnertime, or at eleven o'clock at night?

They'll probably respond "we can't give out our home phone numbers."

Then you say, "Well stop calling me, you're constantly waking my 4 children! YOU DON'T KNOW HOW HARD THAT IS!"

Sometimes, little lies can save you alot of trouble.

Hope I helped!

-EDIT-

Just thought I'd add something. I LOVE being rude to telemarketers. When one calls me, they often say:

"Hi, I'm John from The Bank of *wherever*. Could I have a moment of your time to ask you a few questions?"

My response? "Nope."

And I hang up.

I always look for rude ways of dealing with telemaketers, it just unloads stress.

Answer 3

There is a national do not call registry.  You put your phone number on it.  They are fined if they call anyone on the list.  I've been on it since it started and the telemarketing stopped.  I'm not sure of the online web site for registering - use google.

Answer 4

First, register your number with the National Do Not Call Registry: https://www.donotcall.gov/.  This should get rid of most of the calls within a month or two.  If people still call you can place a complaint with them as well.

This will not get rid of non profit organizations, companies you have done business with before, and political calls (please vote for blah, blah, blah).  

When you get a call from somebody and you do not want them to contact you any longer, say "Please place me on your do not call list".  If you just say "don't call me any more", this can be written off as don't call me during dinner, don't call me between 8 and 9.  In other words, it won't do anything.  

Answer 5

get a thing called telezaper