How to stop a telemarketer

[vbhoutex]

Subject: Supper Time Call
.
The phone rang as I was sitting down to my anticipated evening meal, and
as I answered it I was greeted with " is this William Wagenhoss"
.
Or a similar name not sounding anything like my name, so I said who is
calling?
.
The telemarketer said he was with The Rubber band Powered Freezer
company, or something like that, and then I asked him if he knew William
personally and why was he calling this number.
.
I then said (off to the side), "Get really good pictures of the body and
all the blood" and then turned back to the phone and advised the caller
that he had entered a murder scene and must stay on the line because we
had already traced this call and he would be receiving a summons to
appear in the local courthouse to testify in this murder case.
.
I then questioned the caller at great length as to his name, address,
phone number at home, at work, who he worked for, how he knew the dead
guy and could he prove where he had been about one hour before he made
this call.
.
The telemarketer was getting very concerned and his answers were given
in a shaky voice. I then told him we had
located his position at his work place and the police were entering the
building to take him into custody.
.
At that point I heard the phone fall
and the scurrying of his running away.
.
My wife asked me as I returned to our table why I had tears streaming
down my face and so help me, I couldn't tell her for about fifteen
minutes.

[Forecaster Colby]

ROFL!!!!!

I have GOT to try that, LMFAO!

[wxmann_91]

LOL I should try that. My phone number is probably the first on telemarketers' list, it seems that every time they call I am doing something (and I'm always the one to pick up the phone since there is one in my room).

[Recurve]

I've found one response that works perfectly:
"I'm sorry, this is my business line and I can't take solicitation calls on it."
They seem to understand and always hang up. I don't feel like I'm being rude or get upset at interruptions, and I don't have to get into discussions of when it would be more convenient for them to call back.

[Cookiely]

I detest those calls. I used to say hello and they start their spiel and I never say another word. Sometimes I lay the phone on the table and walk away. They usually call back and I do the same thing. Now, we have the answer machine and don't pick the phone up until someone announces who they are.

[O Town]

He he he. Ya know anytime you start to ask them questions they don't like it. But that was the best!! They had a period here a year or 2 back where they had a number you could call to get on a "Do no call list." I called it and haven't had a solicitation call since. I used to just hang up on them half way through their speal. I hear they are about to be able to start calling cell phone numbers. Don't know if its true, but thats what I heard. That would be a bummer.

[sunny]

Yep - that oughta do it

[brunota2003]

Yep, that should do it, I'm on the no call list to, haven't gotten one since...!!! But now instead of telemarketers, we have what I like to call fax-marketers We have a fax machine and they ALWAYS seem to find your fax number, and waste all your ink, we got one junk fax once that was two paes long and pretty much turned both papers black, such a waste...

[breeze]

I work in a doctor's office. We get telemarketer calls, all day
long, and, junk faxes. Like, we have nothing else to do, right?

At home, I'm on the "Do Not Call" list, too. So far, so good.

[TexasStooge]

[Forecaster Colby]

So add your fax # to the DNC list? Thats do not call, not Dean's organization.

[beachbum_al]

I wished I could had been a fly in that guys office when you did that.

[arkess7]

i have had them leave messages on my cell phone already!!!!!!



TELEMARKETERS!!!!!!

[Brent]

[HurriCat]

We get as many darned calls as ever - even with the "do-not-call" list and what-not. We get about dozen calls a day, where the message on our machine plays, and then no one is there. Obviously the machine-type calls. Something I've noticed is a new thing, where the person will say "I've been trying to return your call" or "I've been trying to reach you, but I guess I'll have to leave a message", and then comes the pitch. Maybe they think this makes it more "innocent" in case their recorded calls get reported (?).

HERE'S THE SOLUTION, period. I saw an electronic device advertised for about fifty dollars. It plugs in-line, before the answering machine. The incoming caller hears "Please put in your security code". I think it's a four digit code you can set. After a max of three tries, the line disconnects. The great thing is that without the code, your phone never rings even one time!

Here's why I'm screwed and can't have this. My mother in law is a little over seventy, and has never caught on to technology. My wife is so certain that "ma" would be confused and not remember the code or even to put it in. Never mind that she has never - in over sixteen years - called us. Absolutely true, at least as far as my ever answering, or being there and my wife answering with "Hi, mom". It's always "dad", and he could easily do the code thing.

So such a device might not be for everyone, but it sure could set a lot of you free from those annoying little...