There have always been, ever since I can remember telemarketing calls. They always call looking to solicit crap that no one would ever buy in their right mind. Even after repeated calls to cease and desist, they never listen. My question is, is their some type of hot line where I could call to add my home phone to a do not call list?

And what do you do to combat against telemarketers, and their pre recorded calls....

This post has been edited by birudagmawi: Aug 21 2007, 02:54 AM

There is a list you can add your name to that keeps most telemarketers from calling. Click here. Effective for five years.

There are also numerous humorous things that people have done to telemarketers just to get back at them. I'm sure a lot of comedians have exploited many a telemarketer for a few laughs.

But of course, you can just hang up, or even screen your calls using your answering machine. I'm not sure what else you could do aside from adding yourself to the "Don't Call" list or just hanging up.

you Just register and thats it huh, thanks!

This post has been edited by birudagmawi: Aug 21 2007, 03:01 AM

Wow, I didn't think there was really anything I could do about the calls on my cell phone. Thanks for the link, this will surely help tons of people combat spam that hits you in the ears rather than the eyes.

What? They're sending out Spam in Cell Phones now? The Government should step in and do something about this problem before it spirals out of control, maybe a hefty fine for each and every one a telemarketing firm calls would do it. If Only.

Hehe good, this is.
Too bad it's not effective "Outside" the United States.

Despite its slight effectiveness, there are easy loopholes that they can exploit to continue to irritate you about products or services. In particular I get annoyed by the Lupus Foundation and a loan company every other day because charities and people you've done business with before can still solicit you. Luckily I see them on caller ID, and just turn the phone on and off in rapid succession.

Tom Mabe in particular likes to mess with them. However there are ways that telemarketers have been exploited by people not for show. For example my father will answer the phone, and if it's a telemarketer he will set the phone down on the table, and watch football or eat dinner while the telemarketer is stuck on the line (they aren't allowed to hang up, especially if they're soliciting for something that isn't charitiable) wondering what happened to their customer. An hour or two later he comes back to the phone and says "If you want to waste my time, I'll waste yours.", then hangs up on them.


I do reccomend using the "Do not call" list in addition to the rapid hanging up method for telemarketing calls. When they start to realize their potential customer isn't interested at all at their service. That two hour method really rings up your phone bill if you aren't a privliged customer like he is (he gets 200 hours free per month IIRC because he's consistently on the phone being an advertiser selling ads to local businesses and inserting them into displays in local markets and sports venues.).

Or you could pretend you have a politically incorrect Tourettes Syndrome.

Actually, in Missouri, the government has done something about it. You can sign up for the governer's No Call list. If you get a call, you can simply tell them you are on the Gov. No Call list, and boy do they hang up fast. I think the state has collected something in excess of a million dollars in fines from telemarketing companies.

Apparently the number one way to stay off of a telemarketing phone number list is to have a unlisted number. Also in Canada they have special lists that you can register to stay off of a
telemarketing list but do not think it works that great. I also remember seeing a device a long time ago that would catch the telemarketing calls and hang up on them. Problem is if there is money to be made they will do it such as the cellphone stuff which can only be stopped with legal action so they will no longer be allowed to do this. The problem is that there might be one person willing to buy something and I do not think they care that they bother another 20 or more people who are not interested till they are made to through legal channels.