How do you handle telemarketers?

Question

When a telemarketer calls, how do you handle the call?

Answer 1

You can be asked to have your name removed from their list.   I would also suggest that you register your number to be on the do not call list at http://www.donotcall.gov, as this will eliminate most telemarketer calls.

Another thing you can do that if you find a telemarketer that is really annoying is to use the Junkbusters Anti-telemarketing script at http://www.junkbusters.com/script.html which gives instructions on making telemarketers stop.

Answer 2

If you do not have an answering machine and caller ID... and MUST answer it... keep a notebook near your phone.

Politely ask the caller to identify the company, phone number, and address (see link below for more specifics) they are calling from.  Jot this information in the notebook, along with the date/time of the call.  Then politely inform them that

1 you do not wish them to call you again

2 please put your number on their NO CALL list

3 you now have their information noted in your log book

AND...

4.... if they EVER call you again, you will sue them for harassment and notify the FCC of their abuse.

You know, that will surely put the "fear of god" into them... because people have won such suits/complaints... they are really NOT that difficult to file. Some states (don't know about where YOU live) will even fine the marketer and pay YOU up to $500 in fines (per call!) in "damages."

Please refer to link below for complete information, and what information you need to file a complaint.

Have a polite day.

Answer 3

I get them to hang up. It can take awhile, but worth it.

Answer 4

Actually, I don't even answer the phone, so I don't have to "handle" them.

Answer 5

I ask "Is this a telephone solicitation?" and when they stumble trying to figure out what a "solicitation" is I tell them they shouldn't be working in telemarketing if they don't know what a solicitation call (sales call) is and hang up on them.

It's fun and factual!!

Answer 6

I don't even speak to them. I just hang up.

Answer 7

when you answer..sound like a little kid..they'll ask if your parents are home..all you have to do is say no and they'll hang up..works for me and a couple other peopl i know =D

Answer 8

I stay polite, but firm.  Tell them you're not interested, and if they keep insisting, say 'I don't have time for this right now.  Have a good day.'  and then hang up.

Answer 9

Well, I registered on the national do not call list, but somehow we still get calls.  Lately they have been after 8 pm at night so I will usually inform them that it is too late to be calling my house and please remove my name/number from their calling lists.  If it's during decent hours I will politely tell them I am not interested and ask them to remove my name/number from their calling lists.

I had an instructor in college that had a 3 or 4 year old son at home, so when the telemarketer would ask for Mr. so-and-so he would say "sure, hold on just a minute" and then put his son on the phone and he would jabber on and on, sometimes making some sense, other times just making noise, eventually the telemarketer would hang up.  I thought it was a cute idea, it solves two problems at the same time (1) it gets rid of the telemarketer, (2) it entertains your child for a few minutes. :)

Answer 10

Ask them what they had for lunch

Answer 11

i calmly answer when they ask if i'm home "yes ma'am .... speaking" and then i grab my air horn and blast it in the phone... they never call back

Answer 12

I answer them politely and listen to their pitch and right at the very end before agreeing I give the phone to my little guy to blabber away to them

Answer 13

I answer the phone, hear a little and tell them: "I'm sorry but I'm not interested." Usually they say "Thanks" and we both hang up.  : )

Answer 14

Tell them no thank you, and then register at the National No Call list.

Answer 15

I had a telemarketing gig for a couple months in my teen years... what fun!!  Most  people I called either said "no thanks" & hung up or they just hung up.  I used to call the people back when they hung up on me and say "I think we were disconnected" for kicks.

Seriously though, it's a horrible job and the pay is c**p.  I usually don't answer calls when I don't know the number, but on rare occasion I get caught off guard, I go the polite route with "Not interested, please take me off your list & have a good day" click.

When working as a telemarketer, I had a handfull of people play along as if they were really interested all the way up to when I was about to transfer them to the manager & then they'd tell me to f-off and never call again.  Funny in hindsight, but upsetting at the time.

Answer 16

I used to try and be polite, listen to them and then refuse, but that seemed to make it worse. So I started hanging up on them but then another person from the same place would call. Now I stop them immediately and say that I'm not interested and please take me off their call list. That seems to work so far.

Answer 17

haha, pretend your mentally retarded and say something really stupid when they call. haha, sometimes it can really make your day. you can even say something to them like... "you have a very pretty voice" seriously, i think god gave us telemarketers to have fun with

Answer 18

I am not interested, get me off your call list, thank you, bye.

Answer 19

I'm not interested.  Please place my phone number on your "Do Not Call" List.

But that's only if I make the mistake of answering the phone in the first place.  If my caller id comes up with "Caller Unavailable," "Caller Unknown", "Call Blocked," "Personal Number," or a toll-free number, or ANYthing that isn't a name and phone number of someone I personally know, I don't answer.  At all.

Answer 20

I introduce them to Mr. Click...........

Answer 21

One time, I told the telemarketer (wanted me to subscribe to a newspaper) that I had to talk it over with my cat, because he gets very angry when I spend money without consulting him first.  Because he worries that I won't have enough money to buy him his food or toys he wants, but he might let me get the subscription since he likes to read Garfield and other comics with animals.  And I could not talk to him just then because he was sleeping, and he also gets very angry if I wake him from a nap. So could she please call back later, and I will let her know what he said.  

She said she would call back, but never did, for some reason.

Answer 22

HANG UP!

Answer 23

after you've place your number on the do not call registry (just web search that if you need to). there are two and only two ways these calls should be handled.  #1 just put the phone down (while they're still connected) and go back to doing whatever it was you were doing. waste their time.  #2 just talk to them about completely random things (even if they're still talking).  for example you could discuss how much you like peanut butter, or how many uses you've found for dryer lint, stuff like that.  a variant of this is to wait for them to ask you a question and then hit them with a nonsensical response.

Q- "what would you say to a free cell phone"?

A- my kittens name is pudding pop

Q- "how about a low interest car loan"

A- mmm...snails have teeth

Answer 24

if its a dude, score a date!

Answer 25

Usually put the phone on the shelf & see how long they will talk before realising no one is there.

They have been there for a good 10 minutes in the past.

Answer 26

I tell them there is no one at home over 18 and that Im home alone and Im supposed to be doing my homework. It works! I sound 14 lol