How do you handle telemarketer calls?

[TXiceman]

I will tell them as soon as the start talking...OK, it's done, when do I get the money. Then I'll add....What do you want done with the body...there is blood everywhere.

Ken

[EZDZIT]

My friend chats with them in Chinese until they give up.

[TexasJeff]

Install Hiya, or something similar for cell phones (you didnt specify if youre on that or a house phone). The app will most of the time detect if its spam or fraudulent. Then dont answer.

Most of these guys operate from a call center. The computer dials the number and if it gets answered the computer gets the next available operator on the phone. Blowing whistles does nothing (except make you feel better like sticking it to the man). But what it does is tell the computer your number is a good number. You then get to be part of the confirmed human list and that list gets sold to another company for more money.

[777 Driver]

Here's how Tom Mabe handles a telemarketer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlDLGtWb1h8

It's worth your 3 minutes 10 seconds.

There are others, too. Pretty funny stuff.

Take care,
Stu

[TonyDi]

I installed NoMoRoBo on my phones and telemarketing call are reduced by about 98%. It works!

[n2zon]

Originally Posted by 777 Driver

Here's how Tom Mabe handles a telemarketer:

It's worth your 3 minutes 10 seconds.

There are others, too. Pretty funny stuff.

Take care,
Stu

You beat me to it! It's oustanding.

[EdInArk]

Originally Posted by TXiceman

I will tell them as soon as the start talking...OK, it's done, when do I get the money. Then I'll add....What do you want done with the body...there is blood everywhere.

Ken

I got an unknown caller while at a handgun competition one day. There were different stations set up with different types of guns. It must have sounded like I was in a war zone. I couldn't resist answering in a whisper and begging them to call the police.

But really .... think about it. After a few hours on the job these folks must get every kind of crap you can imagine. Most of them just ignore it and move on to the next call.

Check JerryP's Post #10. If you're an iPhone user do this and you don't even have to look at the phone to decide to ignore it. Your phone will do it for you.

[IC2]

If I don't recognize the name or number, wont answer that @#$% gadget. They are getting paid, I'm not therefore my time is wasted if I answer. If they are 'spoofing' a local number - again, if I don't recognize the name/number, and it's a legitimate call, the answering machine will give me a chance to return the call if needed. Prank the scammer, but it's your time to spend and will never get back and that scammer in a boiler room or downtown Lagos, Nigeria has heard it all before your call.

[KenZ71]

When my kids were toddlers and constantly babbling I would hand them the phone.

Now I dont answer.

[Fast E]

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

I bought one of the VERY loud referee whistles that came in yesterday. I just had a call and when I determined that it was a telemarketer I blasted him for about 5 seconds with that whistle and hung up. Hopefully he will take my name off his call list!

I use HIYA, it's free...

[jimcumminsw]

We don't get any on our land line phone, since it is only hooked up to the Dish box and the Fax machine. All of our land line phones have been removed and trashed. On our cell phones we do not answer any phone calls unless we know the phone number, if we do not answer leave a message. Works for US.

[MSHappyCampers]

Originally Posted by TexasJeff

Install Hiya, or something similar for cell phones (you didnt specify if youre on that or a house phone). The app will most of the time detect if its spam or fraudulent. Then dont answer.

Most of these guys operate from a call center. The computer dials the number and if it gets answered the computer gets the next available operator on the phone. Blowing whistles does nothing (except make you feel better like sticking it to the man). But what it does is tell the computer your number is a good number. You then get to be part of the confirmed human list and that list gets sold to another company for more money.

I don't blow the whistle until the human starts talking, and even then I confirm that it's actually a telemarketer and not someone with an accent calling about something else. I don't know if they have the option of deleting the number from the call list, but I can dream can't I.

[dustyone]

When I see it's not a number that I recognize I will generally answer morgue give me the name I'll check the toe tag they usually run they can't hang that phone up fast enough

[daveandcarol]

I don't get that many calls any more. Heather from Card Services must have finally checked my credit rating and decided I wasn't worth her time. I still get one now and then about my "extended warranty" - on my 15 year old car...