23 Answers

I let my answering machine pick up those phone calls.

Ducky

@Nene43..the names are in a computerized system and you will be called a number of times (depending on the product/service) before they remove your name...just keep ignoring.

I usually tell them that they are calling a temporary accommodation apartment for the homeless, there,s one next door to me, same result as PL " bad connection" strange eh?...KOTF.

I listen to what they have to say and then i politely tell them that i am not interested.

Ducky

That is thoughful pyth, but if you already know that your answer is "no", save them a spiel and hang up right away. That is preferred by the TM.

pythonlover

Why i listen to what they have to say is because by the off chance it might be something that i am interested in e.g cheaper phone rates, insurance etc.

Ducky

Even though I did that job, I would NEVER buy over the phone. Most are legitimate (including the places I worked) but...some are not!

Usually I politely tell them I am not interested. If they don't accept that, I set the phone down and let them talk until they are blue in the face. Problem is, now most telemarketing is done by electronic machines, which I just hang up on.

I have call blocking for telemarketers via National Do Not Call List. Also incoming calls are recorded and the ringer is usually turned off. It’s a convenience that I pay for so I have no need to talk to someone trying to sell me something on a service I pay for and I don’t respond to solicitors.  

I tell them I am leaving for overseas to look for work as a telemarketer.

One asked how much my phone account was so I asked "What is yours?" "Well you want to know my details what are yours"

One looking to "Give me some money" I asked for their bank account details including password and pin so that I could have my bank contact their bank direct.

 Must have been a bad connection as we were cut off before he could pass on the details, shame really.

Told another one I did not have a bank account but if they posted a bank cheque for the "money:" I would open an account with the cheque and after it was cleared I would send my details to him.

Another bad connection,

sometimes to rude

I play them like a violin. I should be recording my conversations and playing them back on you tube for people to enjoy. One example texas state troopers association. They are a scam.  I enjoy when they call . They deserve all the pain and suffering i cause them for the money they scam out of old people who believe them..

i hang up on them. some call back to back and thats when i threaten them with phone harassment

I politely ask them for their home phone number and when their dinner time is so I'm able to call them back when it's inconvenient for them. They usually hang up on me!

Ducky

They hear that about 100 times per day.

I generally interrupt politely, "Excuse me, but I am not interested in your product/service. Thank you for calling. Good-bye". 
About two weeks ago, I answered my phone to hear, "Please hold".  I hung up and dialed the number that had called me.  It was a telemarketing firm  Who holds for a telemarketer????

I am now on the "do not call register" but as you can imagine when I had my business listed I would receive around 10 telemarketer calls per day selling everything from time share condos to calendas.I just used to hang up on them rudely because I couldn't afford the time to play games.

Ducky

Before the "do not call registry" there were areas in which people were receiving upwards of 20 TM calls DAILY! :(

Well, usually they ask if they've reached (my name) I tell them No, or Who's that? or I tell them I'm very sorry but she died.

I get a lot of calls offering me a "new talking meter" and I tell them my BG's are nobody's business and hang up...........

Now here's a twist!!!   How does the telemarketer handle things?

Let me begin by saying.....I was one...for almost 2 years...inbound (helping callers) and outbound (selling),  along with at one time, being a supervisor in a call center.

1)  Telemarketers are doing a job and have a boss who explains the rules, as on any other job.  One rule....minimum of 3 no's before you give up!  (Standard in the business)

2)  No smart, cute, unique, hilarious or downright gross or rude remark including walking away from the phone and letting the TM talk on,  has NOT been heard by/done to the telemarketer, thousands of times.  I could not repeat a lot of what has been said to me because it would have to be deleted by our moderators.

3)  I personally know 2 young (in their 30's) former telemarketers, who now have permanent hearing loss, due to having whistles blown into the receiver.  That, in my opinion, is nothing less than abusive and entirely unnecessary, even if you are  being interrupted by a phone call.  BTW, calls are recorded along with your name, address and phone no. (yes they have it all) and in one case, charges were laid.

4)  Why do people do these jobs?  Here are some of the reasons....rent, food, children, car payments, clothing, just the same as others who need a pay check.

5)  A telemarketer gives the same  spiel approximately 300 -350 times per day and works either 5 or 6 days a week!  Try it...say 5 sentences 300 times and see how it feels...that's your work day.  Exciting huh?

TELEMARKETERS OFTEN DEVELOP STRESS RELATED ILLNESSES!!! 

So do them a small favor, before they even start their pitch.  Simply say..."I am not interested.  Please take me off of your call list.  Thank you".  (Don't wait for a response)......  JUST HANG UP  (One less spiel for the telemarketer and that's what they prefer.)

Sorry for my rant but it's a case of (out of desperation).... been there and done that!

FYI:  Call centers move into areas where unemployment is extremely high, due to the need for hundreds of employees to man the phones.  The pay is poor, the stress level is high, many employees with whom you are working side by side are court ordered  (parolees, probationers, social assistantance recipients) who DO NOT WANT TO BE THERE and so, are often disruptive in the work place, to say the least.  There are also former business owners, former managers, college and university graduates who simply can't find work, due to a dismal economy!  I was one of them at the time, and took a 65% pay cut from my previous job, just so I could  survive!  (Internet, restaurant meals, movie theater, etc. were luxury items.)

If you still have any questions, I'll be happy to answer them. 

Ducky

Does WHAT "include the ones...." (I don't understand your question)

Ducky

Thanks ROMOS...glad to hear that some of the call centers do pay better...but horror stories for sure. :(

Ducky

Thanks for the info Shootah. I finished my call center "career", 10 years ago and wasn't aware of the change in the "Do not call".

YES!    TAKE THEM FOR A RIDE!   YEEEHAAA  COWBOY!

Most of them do not leave a message on our answering machine. If any does and we are interested in what the offer is we call back.

Ducky

I'll bet. lol

I love telemarketers.  If I have time I answer them, particularly if surveys are involved.  If they are selling me something and I do not want if I give a firm no, but I'm polite. Maybe 3 no's if they are agressive.

Ducky

"3 no's" (minimum) before giving up...that's the rule.

The best way is to say i am on another call i will put you on HOLD they will get very fed up of this and it works no one rings the house now! well not sales people

I'm nasty, I usually give them a smart answer. I ask them what part of 'I'm not interested' don't they understand. Another one I did was to install a screaming machine. Whenever a telemarketer rang, I turned it on. The screams are blood curdling and there are many different kinds. I guess there are a lot of telemarketers with a touch of deafness. Anyway, we have a silent number, so we rarely get a call.

I usually don't answer a number I don't have on caller ID, I suppose it's easier that way?

Ducky

Yep.

I usually just say, "Thanks, but I'm all set."  Regarding this topic, I really wonder how the U.S. Supreme Court could rule that telemarketers have a right to freedom of speech on a telephone service I pay for? That's the logic the court used to disallow telemarketers from having to utilize a no-call list, so as to not bother people who didn't want to be bothered.

Ducky

I don't get it either! Are you saying that there is not a "Do not call list"? That would be news to me.

The words are forbidden on this site. Huum, lost my spellcheck.