What do you do when a phone solicitor calls?

[Homerr]

Thought I would start this post that is sure to get some of us flared up.<br /><br />What do you do when that phone sales solicitor calls when your sitting down and eating chow with the family?<br /><br />I typically cannot think very quick when I get mad, so I go from zero to ***hole when these vermin are on the phone invading my private life and time.<br />Lately I just say, "Hold on a sec, I gotta get the door" (or whatever)...And lay the phone down.<br />This ties their time up. Most of them hang up.<br /><br />I also recently found a web site that you can download the 3 little tones (Do-Da-De) that you can put in front of your outgoing message on your answering machine.<br />This tells their computers that your phone is disconnected and they remove your name of their list. <br /><br />Let's hear your ways of getting rid of these people!<br /><br />H.

 

[ehenry]

Re: What do you do when a phone solicitor calls?

I have caller ID and when it shows "Out Of Area" or "Number Blocked" I don't answer it.

 

[grandx]

Re: What do you do when a phone solicitor calls?

I hear there is a new Nation wide call blocking coming into effect October, you can bet I'll sign up.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: What do you do when a phone solicitor calls?

I just lay the phone down and walk away and let them talk to noone

 

[LadyFish]

Re: What do you do when a phone solicitor calls?

I used to refuse to answer if my caller ID said Unknown Name, Unknown Number, or Out of Area also until one of my sisters in Upstate NY changed her long distance service and now her calls come in under "Unknown Name, Unknown Number". Since I was off work for the last 10 days I realized how many of these calls actually come in. Though it is a pet peeve of mine I answer and tell the telemarketer "I'm not trying to be rude to you and understand you are trying to make a living like everyone else, but please remove us from your calling list since we have not, and will not EVER purchase or release personal information over the phone. If you have something you can mail to us that would be fine".<br /><br />Usually, the caller will take you off their list if you are curtious. I find it works better than the way I used to handle it which was to answer the call by saying, "K-Mart, lingerie department, can I help you?"

 

[mvaughn]

Re: What do you do when a phone solicitor calls?

The first time they are told to remove me from their list, if they do not, I hate to be this rude, but, I figure they have it comming. A spare air/fog horn from the boat in the receiver. Ouch!

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Re: What do you do when a phone solicitor calls?

www.donotcall.gov<br /><br />law goes into eefect in September<br /><br />It's been getting a lot of publicity lately, so their server is running slow.<br /><br />I'd wish they would do something about Spam

 

[KennyKenCan]

Re: What do you do when a phone solicitor calls?

Whenever my caller ID says "Unknown Caller" or such, I just answer saying: "911 Emergency Operator, what is your emergency" and 99.9% of the time I get dead air and a click...no more solicitor and they never call back!

 

[gwman]

Re: What do you do when a phone solicitor calls?

First thig to do is have a bit of sympathy. these people dont want to call you, they have to to feed the family and pay the bills. i doubt any one of them calling you would pick their job as their career choice. so be polite, it doesn't hurt them, and you're blood won't be boiling over after saying "thank you but I'm not interested".<br /><br />The Gov has set up a nationwide "do not call list" at http://www.donotcall.gov. Go there and by october you'll be set up.

 

[Fergulus]

Re: What do you do when a phone solicitor calls?

Usually, when a telemarketer calls and asks for someone, I tell them that the person has been dead for ten years, and that they are heartless monsters. It actually works on some people!

 

[NathanY]

Re: What do you do when a phone solicitor calls?

They try to sell me long distance, I try to sell them a boat or an outboard. That really pisses them off.

 

[gaugeguy]

Re: What do you do when a phone solicitor calls?

Tell them you are really busy, and ask for their number and you'll call them back.

 

[11 footer]

Re: What do you do when a phone solicitor calls?

I use to have greatfun playing with them,<br /><br />But a few mounths ago MA set up a "do not call hotline" my house is on that. We have not got a call selling anything in a long time.

 

[jim phillips]

Re: What do you do when a phone solicitor calls?

I tell them I am just robbing the house and the owners are tied up right now you will have to call back later

 

[Ross J]

Re: What do you do when a phone solicitor calls?

I ask for their name and number to call at my convienance, usually that ends it.<br />Secondly if they call more than once (caller ID in house) I phone the number listed. Its amazing how many of these idiots call from their own personal phone. It's even more bloody amazing what a call at 0230hrs can do to somebody. I like toinform them that it's now convienant to chat.........<br /><br />Oh, and whilst we're at it, there's those ones that send you a fax informing you that you'd better call them to be removed from their auto fax sender. I just insert a sheet of paper into my fax machine, make a loop with a couple of more sheets and cellotape, and send it right back at them. Sometimes it runs for 15min before they think to break the transmission. Never ever had a repeat from them!<br />Ross

 

[Carphunter]

Re: What do you do when a phone solicitor calls?

My calls usually go like this; "Hello, may we speak with Mr. Carphunter"?, then I say "Blamp gooby tokatch asmundane ack ack uh oh oh bluh bluh bluh", then I get a "What", and then I repeat. Usually works.

 

[SlowlySinking]

Re: What do you do when a phone solicitor calls?

I usually let them start and ask, "HELLO, HELLO, I can't hear you, speak louder", and of course they talk louder, a couple of these and then I say with a real monotone voice, "I'm sorry, this is a machine", click, a dial tone, and they go away. Try it, it's hilarious, you gotta hear some of the things they say.

 

[billyshears]

Re: What do you do when a phone solicitor calls?

I love people who call me for stuff like this. I live for it. I always see if I can keep them on longer than the last call. My longest record is 1 hour and 15 minutes. I know how these people work, and they get paid by the hour. The more calls they make and sales they make, the more money they make. If they are on the phone with me, they make little money. I have done this so much that they don't call me anymore. I get no telemarketers ever. I am kind of upset about it. I don't put my name on this "no call" list. I want them to call. Some calls I get into their personal life and basiclly talk about my topics. I run the call. One of their rules is that they can't hang up until you finish the call. I just never finish the call. <br /><br />My favorite story: They call me and tell me I need to call Mike Larry right away cause he has been trying to reach me. Giving me a number to call is a bad bad thing. Now I can call as often as I want. And when I am bored I call often. But for this intial call I kept the lady on the phone for 45 minutes till I got bored and decided to call the number she was giving me. I would ask her where she was. "Texas". "Oh, I have been to Texas!". and I would talk about my trip for 5 minutes. You always have to sound excited though. Sound like you really mean it. When I got bored with her, I called Mike Larry. Who of course wasn't in, but his assistent was. Getting them to tell me Mike wasn't in and me to understand took at least 5-6 minutes. Then you really have them. Kept them on for at least 50 minutes before letting them go cause I was going out to eat. Boy were they mad after talking to me for that long and me just telling them "thank you for talking to me for all this time, But I was never interested in your time share. I just wanted to talk and waste your time." Boy do they get mad. I love it.<br /><br />Here is the best idea. When they call, ask for their full name. Then ask where they are calling from. Then tell them that you don't have time to talk now, but being you have their name and location you will look up the number and call them at home. Boy does the phone go silent. They say that I shouldn't and that I can't do that. Oh, but I do. Just around the least convenit time for them. <br /><br />If anyone knows how to get your name on a list to have them actually call, let me know. As I said earlier, they have stopped.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: What do you do when a phone solicitor calls?

Usually I ask them if they've heard dial tone lately... Click...<br /><br />Sometimes I'll mess with them a bit like when they're selling windows, siding, painting, and such, I'll teel em that my house is underground or something stupid like that... <br /><br /> Had one really going one day.. She was selling viynal siding... Told her it would'nt work because my house had no right angles on it and it was completely round (it's not)...

 

[norman158]

Re: What do you do when a phone solicitor calls?

i try and get a number and address, when asked why, i reply that i am single and would love to take them out to dinner and a few beers and then to the closest motel 6 for a little fun. so far no takers and no more calls.