I Think I Found the Solution to Telemarketers' Calls! What's Yours?

We once were being bothered by a particular telemarketer, until I tried actually answering his question. He called again, and said his very polite opening sentence, something about "how are you today", and I told him.

This is what I said, without pausing to take a breath: "oh, thanks for asking. You know, things aren't going so good today. I'm trying like crazy to get a stain out of my son's favorite t shirt. Do you know how to get mustard stains out? Anyway as soon as that's done I have to go to the grocery store and let me just tell you the price of milk is driving me crazy! It's gone up 50 cents! And how am I supposed to serve my kids cereal if milk is that expensive?"

I just babbled on and on, looking around the room for inspiration, talking about the bookshelf needing dusting and how I am not happy with my Congressman and since he asked how I was, I have this back ache that won't go away ...

He hung up. Never called again.

I remember, as a kid, my dad would answer the phone, realize it was a telemarketer, put the phone down (still connected) and start yelling 'Julio! Bring the goat! You bring that goat now! JULIO!!'... and he'd keep going on and on until the other person hung up. My brother and I would be giggling madly in the background... my dad :)

Now, we're on the Do Not Call registry, but if someone calls, my husband (who know all the laws), let's them know that their company is being reported and fined $400 for this call, $600 for the next time they call, etc etc etc... they never do call back ;)

If hubby isn't home, yep, the kiddos can have at it!!

My boyfriend will listen to them talk and while they're talking he'll whisper "poop" at random times. They'll pause wondering if they actually heard what they think that they heard, continue talking, then they'll pause for a little longer, then continue talking, then they'll usually hang up.

I let them go through their spiel and when they pause, I say, "Put us on your do not call list." and hang up.

They hang up real quick if you tell them you're in labor.

Funny though that is, that doesn't get your number removed from the telemarketing dialing database and the calls will keep coming.
And getting rid of a land line does not guarantee telemarketers will not call your cell phone - they will and they do.
I either ask to be removed from their dialing list or, since I work from home, I tell them that this is a business number.
A very few times I have had to file complaints on the Do Not Call web site (I register with Do Not Call soon as I have a new number), and eventually the most persistent callers eventually quit calling.
There was an article in the local paper web site that was about telemarketers not obeying Do Not Call laws and the need for bigger fines/better enforcement.
I go out of my way to never give my phone number out unless it's absolutely necessary.
Ever fill out one of those "Win a Chance for a Free Vacation/Truck/Car/etc" slips at home shows or other events?
They sell the information on those entry slips.
If you give your name, address, phone number and email address - you can expect tons of junk mail in your mail and email boxes as well as lot's of telemarketers calling your phone.
Guard your info and be careful where you give that info out.

I just say I'm the maid and I'm not paid very much so I can't purchase anything.

When we were kids, one of my brothers would answer: City Morgue and that one never called again.

And then a different one would call, and they asked for my dad one time and he said: My dad? Have you seen my dad??? Well if you see him again you tell him that my mom wants him to come home, his 6 kids need him! and on and on he went until the guy apologized profusely and never called again.

It was pretty funny to us, because yes we do have 6 kids in the family, but our dad was sitting there the whole time haha. It was great.
And anytime another one would call, they got the same spiel until we never got telemarketers :p

Unfortunately, this doesn't work to stop them. If you want the calls to stop you have to say these words**take me off your list**. If they continue to call contact the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and file a complaint.

i used to do the same. Shed say mommy they want to talk to you and I'd say nooooooo they certainly want to hear about your day and boo boo...lol. Always worked, and kept her busy

May I have your name please. Your last name and your phone number, so I can call you. They ALWAYS hang up. They don't seem to care if you tell them you are on the no call list and their employer will face fines.

We got rid of our home phone line 2 years ago for this reason. They are SO annoying!!

I bet that's great to get a 2 year old on the line!

I answer, and then tell them to hold on a minute while I fetch the person they are looking for. Then I put the phone down....sometimes they hold for a really long time! I never go and pick it back up. It's not much of a solution but it makes me laugh!

Kate:

There was one time I pretended to be the police (I had seen a skit on some TV show) and asked them who they were and why they were calling...this was considered a crime scene and they may be a witness!

We are on the DO NOT CALL LIST....so IF they happen to call? I say hold on a minute, put the phone down and go about my business. I'll come back a few minutes later and they are gone.

Love it!!!
I had a friend that always said whoever they asked for was deceased...a bit morbid.
My mom would always say they moved!
I'm boring...I just don't answer but love your method!

I answer and hang up immediately.lol after awhile, they just quit calling. or I will say I'm the babysitter can't talk right now and hang up. either way it works and they either call back somewhere later on or don't call back at all.and still I just hang up.:)

Dee

I do the exact same thing! Although my son is four now but he will tell then that he went to school today, or about his dinosaurs or whatever. Hilarious!

If I answer at all, I pick up the phone, immediately say "not interested; don't call back" and hang up. Usually they don't bother calling again!

That's hilarious! We got rid of our landline years ago. That got rid of most telemarketing calls.

I whisper real, real soft then blast them with a fog horn.....just kidding...I would love to try that.

I just say "No Thanks" right in the middle and hang up.

Cheryl - that sounds like a Tom Mabe routine! Bet it's on youtube along with several others of his!!

I'm with you. It worked so well, until she grew up (she's 16 now).

I do that too! It's hysterical. Until she asked the person to come over for a sleepover.

Caller id and don't answer.

Best solution I've found was a Telezapper phone--awesome for telemarketers, but kind of annoying for family and friends. but it did work we barely ever had a telemarketer after that phone.

We lost it in our move, and I haven't had a chance to look for another :( I think I'll have my 2 yr old answer next time too :)

LOL that's a great idea - and one I'm going to steal =)