Decreasing Unwanted Telemarketing Calls

A ringing phone at dinner or anytime when you do not want to be interrupted is annoying and a source of frustration for many. To make matters worse, when you answer the phone, the caller is trying to sell a product or solicit a charitable contribution. How can you get rid of callers in a tactful way? Giving the phone to your two or three year old who has become fascinated with answering the phone can give the caller an idea of your displeasure! After listening to babbling or unclear sentences for a few seconds, the caller will hang up. An answering machine can also be used to screen phone calls. Other strategies to get rid of telemarketing callers are described below.

GET CONTROL OF THE CONVERSATION. Do not allow the caller to get into a sales pitch. One way you can do this is to say, "How can I help you?" immediately after they give their name. This usually throws the caller off. At the first mention of a product for sale, interrupt and simply say you are not interested. Ask the caller to remove your name and number from their calling list and hang up the phone without giving them a chance to say anything else.

INTERRUPT CALLERS IMMEDIATELY. Find out their name and what company they represent. Tell them 1) you are not interested in what they are selling, 2) to remove your name from their calling list, and 3) that you are making a note of their call. Write down the date, name of the caller, and the company in case you are called again. The Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (PL102-243) contains provisions that allows consumers to receive up to $500 for each violation if they receive more than one phone call in a 12-month period from the same company. If you get repeated calls from a company after asking them to put you on their do not call list, contact the Attorney General's Office in your state for assistant (In PA, call 1-800-441-2555).

REGISTER WITH THE TELEPHONE PREFERENCE SERVICE (TPS). Send your name, address, and telephone numbers (with area codes) requesting that your name be removed from national telephone mailing lists. You should see a decrease in the number of calls about three months after your request. Business subscribers to the TPS get a delete list in January, April, July, and October. Names are kept in the delete file for five years. After five years, register again. If you move, you should register your new address and telephone number. Write to Telephone Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association, P. O. Box 9014, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014.