Cold callers...

[Cobra]

I am sick of getting advertising calls all day long. It happens four or five times every day - someone calls to advertise a product/service or try to rope us into a scam.

I just had someone call, ask to speak to my father. I said he wasn't in, what was the call regarding? I got "Bye." - how rude. Now, I'm getting calls that are damn recorded messages.

Who else has this problem? How do you deal with it? Is there actually a way to stop these people?

Cobra

[gitreel]

In the US, we have a don't call list.

[JohnnyCNote]

They finally passed a law here in the US where we can put our numbers on a do-not-call list. Outside of that, the only ways to stop it is either to get an answering machine and screen your calls, or get something like the "Telezapper". However, I don't know if that would work on your phones. Go to Telezapper.com and check it out....

[yoda313]

Hello,

JohnnyCNOTe - TELEZAPPER! Thanks, I couldn't remember the name. Before the do not call list went up my family got that and it did seem to reduce the volume of calls. Worth a shot.

Kevin

[gitreel]

How does the TeleZapper "zap" telemarketers?

The TeleZapper uses the technology of telemarketers' automatic dialing equipment against them. When you or your answering machine picks up a call, the TeleZapper emits a special tone that "fools" the computer into thinking your number is disconnected. Instead of connecting you to a salesperson, the computer drops the call and stores your number as disconnected in its database. Over time, as your number is removed from more and more databases, you'll see a dramatic decrease in the number of annoying telemarketing calls you receive.

[Cobra]

http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/

This may be worth a shot - same as the "Don't call list" you suggested, gitreel.

[gitreel]

Yeah,

Go ahead. It might be worth it.

[Devanshu]

We dont have that problem anymore...but it did used to happen. Whenever I got one of those calls and they asked for my parents...here's what I said:

"May I speak to ______"
"I'm sorry he's trying to meditate"
"Oh....is mrs. _____ in"
"She is but she's trying to levitate"

Problem solved.

[gitreel]

I have always had the urge to pick up the phone and respond with pizza hut or joe' s crab shack or something like that and ask them for their order.

That would get rid of them.

[indolikaa]

You need to have fun with these people, Cobra! Well, the human ones anyway...


Telemarketer: Hello is Mr. Indolikaa Khan there?
Mrs. Khan: I'm sorry, he's out ******* the goat, can I take a message?


Telemarketer: Hello may I speak to Mr. Indolikaa Khan?
Mrs. Khan: Just a moment... (long pause)
Mrs. Khan: Could you call back in about 15 minutes? He's not quite done dismembering that vacuum salesman that knocked on our door yesterday.

Telemarketer: May I please speak to the head of the household?
Mrs. Khan: Just a moment... (leaves phone on counter)
(All night.)

Telemarketer: Is Indolikaa there?
Mrs. Khan: Just a moment...
(Applies gravy to handset of phone and lets dog lick it clean.)


Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

[bugster]

If you really want to stop these calls, change your number and have it made ex-directory.

If you just want to piss off the callers in the hope they will not call again, each time you get a call, start to talk to them then say something like "there is some one knocking at my door, can you hold for a minute, and put the phone down (don't hangup, just put it down). Go back to whatever you were doing. See how long before they hang up!

[thecoalman]

If you really want to stop these calls, change your number and have it made ex-directory.

Is that like a unlisted number cause usually they just call right through all the numbers, they don't use a directory.

My favorite used to be "I'm busy right now how about your home number and I'll call you back there"

[edsmith77]

Ya know the best solution to this type of problem is very simply. HANG UP. In fact you can actually get a gravity assist while hanging up to make the whole process easier.
And the results are just superior.

[gitreel]

Or you could change your voicemail message to say.

I am only answering every other call and it is not your turn.

Then turn the ringer off and let the voicemail answer it.

[gitreel]

Ya know the best solution to this type of problem is very simply. HANG UP. In fact you can actually get a gravity assist while hanging up to make the whole process easier.
And the results are just superior.

I have done that before. It drives my wife crazy. I answer and hang up. My wife thinks it is rude.

I learned that trick from mr. destiny.

[thecoalman]

Ya know the best solution to this type of problem is very simply. HANG UP. In fact you can actually get a gravity assist while hanging up to make the whole process easier.
And the results are just superior.

Except when there calling all day and usually right when your in the middle of something, I used to get no less than 5 a day usually more. The do not call list was one of the best pieces of legislation the U.S. government came up with, I'm actually suprised they passed it it's so good :P .

[indolikaa]

I thought my technique was better...

[Capmaster]

We have "Do Not Disturb" on our phone for that very reason. My wife used to have to leave the house on some days when the solicitor calls came one after the other.

Do not disturb doesn't even allow the phone to ring unless the caller enters a specific 4-digit number. All our friends and family have the number, so when it rings, we know it's someone we know. Also, we have caller ID so we know who it is. It works perfectly and is the best $4/month investment I've ever made

Once, before DND, I got a call from a vacuum salesman or a water purification place and he wanted to demo the product. I acted excited and set up an appointment that evening. I gave him the home address for the New Mexico Attorney General

[bugster]

If you really want to stop these calls, change your number and have it made ex-directory.

Is that like a unlisted number cause usually they just call right through all the numbers, they don't use a directory.

Yes it is. Cold Callers in the UK tend to use directories. I have been ex-directory (unlisted) for years and only get one or two cold callers a year. My Father is listed and gets them several times a week.

[northcat_8]

I do several things with these people and the most fun is what indo suggests. Nothing better than hearing the studdering when you say what they don't expect to hear.

Another method is since I am dialup at home, I set my PC to answer the phone after 1 ring, so all they get is the modem communication. Their computer will eliminate your number from their list. I will also start talking to them and then dialup while they are talking...but that goes back to indo's method.

Finally the third thing I do, is when I answer the phone I say "Hello" and if there is not an immediate reply I hang up.

This is actually good for bill collectors as well....you hear that Direct TV..MFers ....when the computer calls it makes a log of what times the phone gets answered and when it does not, so they know your schedule and call you more often while you are home.

I do like giving them a hard time though, it is the most entertaining but sadly I don't have time during the school year to stay home and **** with them all day.

[yoda313]

Hello,

Or you could get caller id and don't answer when it says "incomplete data". Listen for the answering machine and if its somebody you WANT to talk to then pick it up.

Kevin

[gitreel]

You could try to sell them something.

[indolikaa]

You could try to sell them something.

Sheep?!

[Capmaster]

You could try to sell them something.

Porn?

[gitreel]

Yep....

That will get caps attention.:lol;

[Capmaster]

Yep....

That will get caps attention.:lol;

[gitreel]

You could try to sell them something.

Sheep?!

The sheep is what I meant would get your attention.

[Capmaster]

You could try to sell them something.

Sheep?!

The sheep is what I meant would get your attention.

Use the quote button noob!

Just kidding, gitreel

[gitreel]

You could try to sell them something.

Sheep?!

The sheep is what I meant would get your attention.

Use the quote button noob!

Just kidding, gitreel

I know.
I just used the quote button.

[Cobra]

I registered with TPS. Apparently, it will take up to 28 days for it all to stop but we should see a massive decrease within a week. It's free and run by the Government so it should work no problem.

As for various methods of messing with them, I would love to but frankly they aren't worth the effort. Even the fact that they made me get up and answer the phone is not on.

Still, it should all stop now.

Cobra