How To Discourage Telemarketers From Calling You

I get calls from telemarketers several times a week because I am at home.

They're usually from a utilities provider trying to persuade us to switch providers, a vacation resort, a non-profit org soliciting donations via raffle tickets, or market researchers.

I'm more patient with market researchers and non-profits. If I have time, I try to help the researchers. With non-profits, I usually ask for the website address and say I prefer to make a donation directly, so that I don't inadvertently give out private details over the phone to a crook.

The worst ones are those that won't take "No" for an answer and keep trying to extend the conversation when I've made it clear I'm hanging up.

How do you deal with telemarketers who don't understand that "No" means "No"?

Some people I know pass the receiver on to another member of the family or even a friend who happens to be visiting. Some put the caller on hold indefinitely.

I usually say I'm not interested, and hang up. I have long got past feeling guilty about hanging up on someone who is just trying to do his job.

Recently, I tried a different tactic. I decided to put the pressure on the caller instead with a tactic my law lecturers would be proud of.

I call it the Education approach.

After stating that I'm not interested in the product/service, I ask: "How did you get my number?"

"From our calling lists. We buy information from other companies etc etc."

"Are you aware that my number is on the Do Not Call Register?
Do you know that it is an offence for your company to make an unsolicited call to someone on the Register?
What company did you say you represent again?"

The effect is instantaneous.

Straightaway, the caller apologizes, says he wasn't aware, he will let his company know and he won't call again.

And he hangs up.

Being on the DNC Register is no guarantee that you will never again receive unsolicited telemarketing calls.

But it certainly puts the caller on notice, and there is nothing like the threat of a legal penalty to discourage persistent telemarketers.

Note: Being on the DNC Register does not prevent certain exempted orgs from calling you.

Examples:

• charities or charitable institutions
• educational institutions
• religious organisations
• government bodies
• registered political parties
• independent members of parliament
• political candidates.