This guide comes from my own experience, two months trying to make money by trying to convince other people to send money to a non-profit organization. Neither element worked very well for me, but I did pick up a few things sitting on the other side of the phone. These include the magic words: Do Not Call List (DNCL).

Here’s how to stop telemarketers BEFORE they call:

Register at the National Do Not Call Registry (US only)

(Canadian forum members: We may get a Do Not Call List as well. If I hear this passes, I’ll update.)

Basically, after you’ve had a telephone number on this list for 31 days, it is ILLEGAL for telemarketers covered by the Registry to call you at that number. It is a free service of the federal government; you don’t have to pay anything to be on this list. You will be on the list for 5 years. (All this information is from the Federal Trade Commission’s FAQ regarding the Registry. Other questions can be answered there.)

Now, not all telemarketers are covered by this Registry. These include: “calls from or on behalf of political organizations, charities, and telephone surveyors would still be permitted, as would calls from companies with which you have an existing business relationship, or those to whom you’ve provided express agreement in writing to receive their calls”.

If you get one of these calls after registering above, follow these steps:

1. Politely interrupt the telemarketer AFTER they have stated why they are calling.

Trust me, telemarketers are trained NOT to allow you to have any opportunity to talk unless it’s a reply to a leading question. You have to get your word in edgewise by your own power. Be polite, but be forceful if necessary. As to why after, see the DON’T list below.

2. Say, “Please put me on your Do Not Call List.”

Say this clearly, this is the important part. Telemarketing companies maintain their own DNCL. These magic words make the telemarketer hit magic buttons on their computers that removes your number from circulation. Problem – from these guys at least – SOLVED.

3. If necessary, hang up.

The telemarketer is not SUPPOSED to argue with you, but if they persist, hang up after saying the magic words. Don’t waste any more time.

Now, here are some things you DON’T do. (Please. For me.)

1. Don’t hang up as soon as you realize it’s a telemarketer.

Second worse thing you can do. If the telemarketer doesn’t have a chance to explain why they are calling, the number is added to the “call back” list. Good chance they’ll never get to it again, but why take that chance?

2. Don’t politely listen to the entire speech if you don’t plan on contributing.

Worse thing you can do. You’re wasting your time, and you’re wasting the telemarketer’s time. If you don’t want to contribute, tell them as soon as possible. Interrupt, as suggested above. Then use the magic words. (Do Not Call List)

Telemarketers get frustrated when they talk, then don’t get a sale. Do YOU want to be the one that gets the person with the voodoo dolls? Do YOU want to take the chance it might work?

3. Don’t treat the telemarketer like a soulless, sadistic demon.

These guys exist. I worked with a few. Actually, most of them were looking over my shoulder, implying I was lazy and/or worthless because I couldn’t get retired grandparents to fork out $20. And yes, they are EVIL.

If you’re on the Registry, however, chances are the telemarketer you’re talking to ISN’T a professional harbinger of evil. They may be a college student trying to earn enough to buy something other than mac and cheese. They may be a single mom trying to make ends meet. They may be a 16 year old trying to supplement their allowance. I worked with all of them. I was the former.

If their company works like mine did, they’re also probably pretty desperate for sales. The way MINE worked, was you were booked for a 3 hour shift. If you didn’t meet quota in the first hour, you were kicked out without pay, then repeat every half hour. So that’s 1 hour of minimum wage for 3 hours of wasted time if you’re not able to squeeze money out of retired grandparents on pension. If you go over quota, you get paid more money per hour, but that NEVER happened to me. I was lucky to stay for 2 hours.


So, get rid of the telemarketer with the magic words, but be nice about it. It makes your life easier, and it makes them a little less likely to hate you and make a doll for their collection.

nice job on this tutuorial, they are annoying! my brother applied for a telemarketing job, but didnt get it cause at the interview the lady asked him to advertise a sharpie...

I wouldn't want to be on DNCL, even thought i live in england and dont know if they do this kinda thing. But either way i love it when they call because you can lead them on so much its great fun My brother once had one call and it was about a mobile phone contract and they asked how much he spent a month on his phone, he answered with £300 and in the background heard the guy tell everyone in a whispered voice "£300!!!" hahahaha! then he hung up! And i was once offered a free phone so i offered them a free phone, that was fun too!

The way i look at it my phone line is, in a sense, my "land" and by phoning me i have the right to say whatever i want to them! and they have no right to annoy the heck out of me by asking me if i want this or that so they get what they deserve.

thats kind of cruel, its not like they want to annoy the heck out of you, i just nicely say no thank you...thats just mean

But they're so persistent its like Christians knocking at your door trying to recruit you, or politicians, id love to chase them with a chainsaw, but id probably get arrested . If i wanted to buy new windows or a new phone or become a Christian id go to a shop or church!

Good tutorial, we don't get that many telemarketers, here you can be put on a list which, if a telemarketer calls it is a criminal offense and you can report them. But for anybody who needs an alternative to your solution, try this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ve21XwzXqs

Wow, this is so convienient and cool! I really really really (continues for an hour) hope that a similar scheme gets set up here in the UK. Maybe then I can finally have some peace...

NDPA, here in the UK there is a list, we have signed up and it works like a charm, we only have telemarketers call once or twice a year.

http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/