Since the "Do Not Call" list law has no teeth... I'm going to start saying "yes"

[LeeH]

I think when someone calls from a painting company, a window company, a carpet cleaning company that just doesn't bother to check the national Do Not Call list I'm going to just take their next available appointment... then not answer the door when they show up.

[Crowbob]

I say, "Hold on a second." Then put the phone down without hanging up.

[speedracing944]

I always take the opportunity to try to sell them some useless junk laying around the house. I also like to see how long I can keep them off topic for. It is amazing how long you can go sometimes. It almost seems like they want to have a break from being hung up on.

Speedy

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Most likely. A lot of them are just call center employees. Have you ever worked in a call center? It sucks. It's probably among the worst jobs in the world. The people working the phones aren't the problem (beyond agreeing to work those jobs I suppose). It's the idiot businesses who pay for the "services" provided by the call centers who are the ones ultimately responsible. That's why I like Lee's approach so much - it's not so much venting on some poor minimum-wage schlocker who's so hard up he (or she) has to work in some call center hell-hole, it hits the bottom line of the businesses that promulgate this crap. Hits 'em right in the pocketbook by making THEM come out on a fool's errand. I like it.

[madmmac]

I too put them on hold, but I lay it down by the radio playing music. Of course after 5 minutes or so I'll pick it back up and see if they are there, if they are it's oh, sorry, I need to put you back on hold again.

Other times I speak only broken English and don't really understand anything they are saying and need them to explain everything, others I immediately ask for the supervisor, or I'll ask for their home phone number so I can call them at 0300.

I rarely get any calls anymore. A lot quieter but not nearly as much fun.

[LeeH]

I wonder if they have my address since they have my phone number. If not, I could give them an address between mine and my next door neighbor's and watch them drive back and forth looking for the correct house number.

Maybe I'll give them a flier on the DNC list when they show up... so many possibilities.

[ossiblue]

I like Lee's idea too. Some of these callers are not from call centers and are very quick. My wife got a call from a painter a few weeks ago and immediately told him we were on the "Do Not Call" list. Without skipping a beat, he replied, "But Mrs. Smith, you called me and I'm returning your call." Knowing that was B.S., she hung up but I bet some get caught by thinking that they either forgot or their spouse had called originally. Very clever...

[968rz]

I don't get many calls from the likes of these folks, if I do I'm very short and to the point "NO THANK YOU, BYE!" click.

My brother got one of them good once; they called him relentlessly to order a newspaper subscription. He finally got so fed up the next time they wouldn’t take no, he paused sighed and stated very sadly [almost sobbing] "I'm illiterate". All he heard after that was " oh, sorry - click and they never called again.

[LeeH]

I need a url... something clever like CallBusters.org or DNCBusters.org. This could be a grass roots campaign in the making - sort of like the guys who mess with the Nigerians. I can see the links to the youtube videos now... people all over the country videotaping the reactions of contractors showing up on their doorstep only to given a flier that says "Please add my number to your Do Not Call list!"

[onlycafe]

maybe something along this line? old but very funny.

http://topofthethread.wordpress.com/2008/07/21/funny-prank-phone-call-phone-salesman-calls-murder-scene/

[Rick V]

I was being harassed By a vinyl siding company, I finally decided to let them come out and give me an estimate. I sat on the front porch and waited for the salesman to show up on a sat morning. When he showed up and got out of the car and saw my all brick home, he asked me if I was serious about siding it, I simply asked him if he was ready to stop calling me.

[Zeke]

If you say "yes" the telemarketer will simply get your phone number and turn it over to the company to set an appointment.

I have done jobs for 3 people who ran their own independent telemarketing schemes and filling their own orders. Each was making a killing and the callers were doing pretty well.

One guy had a lot of experience in setting up these things and recruiting callers. He wouldn't let them work more than 4 hours, but he kept them wired. He got a cut of the action and passed the leads on. He'd run a crew of 12 all afternoon and into the evening. At 3 o'clock they'd start with the East Coast and work West as the hours rolled on. Most of the schemes worked for a few months and then went dry.

The other 2 were selling cheap tools. The opening line was a 10" carbide saw blade for 10 dollars. They sold pallets of these.

I don't like it any more than you do, but it's done because it works.

[john70t]

Coffee is for closers.
Seriously, if they break out the pictures of the kids, they're desperate.

Careful about what you are saying "yes" to. The conversation will be taped and could constitute a billable agreement for services.

[legion]

Oh man, you guys just gave me a great idea for my next telemarketer.

"Hello Chris! Can we interest you in blah blah blah?"

(In Andy Kaufman foreign man voice "Yes."

"Great! We just need some information. Can you verify your address."

"Yes."

[Long pause.]

"Sir? Can you verify your address?"

"Yes."

[Another long pause.]

"Sir? What is your address?"

"Yes. I like the big boob."

"Excuse me?"

"I like the girl with the big boob."

[billwagnon]

yaaaay Missouri

Telemarketers

Telemarketers that violate Missouri's No Call law by calling Missourians that have registered their home phone numbers to the No Call list are in jeopardy of facing a legal action initiated by the Attorney General.

To date the Attorney General's Office has obtained court orders requiring telemarketers that violated the No Call law to pay $3,793,000 to the State.

http://ago.mo.gov/nocalllaw/nocalllaw.htm

[WolfeMacleod]

best of Anti Telemarketing. Tom Mabe

[TerryH]

Directv was recently fined millions dollars on at least two different occasions for cold calling those on the dnc list. The do not call list is taken very seriously. There used to be a place online to record the numbers of callers not abiding to the law.

[T77911S]

Originally Posted by Crowbob

I say, "Hold on a second." Then put the phone down without hanging up.

hey! that was mine.

i have a drumset near by, good whack on the cymbal does it when im in a bad mood or they made me mad.

if its a girl, tell her for every question she asks you, you get to ask her one. or just start asking her what she is wearing and when she gets mad, tell her she called you.

we just got rid of our home phone. the battery was dead and we never answered it anyway.

i make it a point not to do buisiness with anyone that calls me or sends me spam.

[Z-man]

We are on the do not call list, but sometimes a call gets through, including those "Please support the PBA" calls. In cases where a service is being offered, I respectfully decline their offer, and clearly request that they put me on THEIR do not call list. I believe they are legally obligated to then put me on their own internal do not call list.

The less such lists I am on, the less likelyhood of my name and phone number being propegated to other telemarketers.

BTW - Been a few weeks since I've not gotten any cell phone calls telling me that "this is your second warning - your warranty is about to expire on your car..." I wonder if they nabbed the folks behind that scheme? Anyone know?

-Z-man.

[GH85Carrera]

I usually just tell them the same line. "I never, ever, under any circumstances, purchase anything solicitated over the telephone." If they persist I lie. To the carpet cleaners I tell I have all wood floors. I buddy had some lady calling him for some service he did not want. He finally used his best pervert voice and asked what color her panties were. She hung up.