Quick way to block a telemarketer

Falbe Publishing · 07-03-2008, 02:54 PM

This might only work in the United States, but I just heard from a friend the other day that if you get a marketing call, especially an automated recorded one, immediately press 2 on your phone. This will remove you from that company's phone list.

I just tried it with this ridiculous recording that I've been getting trying to sell me a mortgage refinance and it worked! As soon as I pressed 2 I got a message that said I had been removed from the list.

Pressing 2 is certainly worth a try in all situations. Even though I'm on the "Do Not Call" list I still get a smattering of telemarketers.

Hope this info helps a few people reduce their stupid calls.

Donnageddon · 07-03-2008, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falbe Publishing

Pressing 2 is certainly worth a try in all situations.

I just had a neighbor drop by wanting to show me pictures of her trip to the Tacoma Zoo with her kids.

I immediately picked up my phone and pressed 2 over and over again, unfortunately it did no good.

zelda_pinwheel · 07-03-2008, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnageddon

I just had a neighbor drop by wanting to show me pictures of her trip to the Tacoma Zoo with her kids.

I immediately picked up my phone and pressed 2 over and over again, unfortunately it did no good.

heh...

BookishDreamer · 07-03-2008, 03:54 PM

Wish I'd known about this when I still had a landline phone.

Dreamer

MickeyC · 07-03-2008, 04:40 PM

I use two strategies to annoy telemarketers.

Knowing they are paid by the number of people they contact, I let them go on and on. Then I ask dopey questions and stall around and generally frustrate them. Then act really dumb saying something like, "Oh sorry, I thought this was for a free weekend in a Hilton in London Kentucky not London, England. I'm not allowed to leave the country since the sentencing." They hang up quick and I've succeeded in annoying them more then they have annoyed me.

If I want to end it quick and still have some fun, I pretend I work for the company they are calling for:

Telemarketer: "Hi, I'm calling on behalf of the Hilton Hotel chain"
Me: "Is there something wrong"?
Telemarketer: "No I'm calling offer you a free weekend"
Me: "But I work for Hilton Sales"
Telemarketer: "Oh, sorry, guess you don't need me"

zelda_pinwheel · 07-03-2008, 04:54 PM

(me makes note to pretend to work for the next health insurance / electricity reseller / investment counsellor / kitchen remodel / double pane windows company that calls)

a funny blog post about getting rid of telemarketers :
http://velcrometer.blogspot.com/2003...ite-daily.html

Ervserver · 07-03-2008, 08:08 PM

I got rid of my landline, don't get any telemarketing calls on my cellphone.

wayrad · 07-03-2008, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falbe Publishing

This might only work in the United States, but I just heard from a friend the other day that if you get a marketing call, especially an automated recorded one, immediately press 2 on your phone. This will remove you from that company's phone list.

Interesting. I'm unable to find any information on this via Google, not even urban legend hits. Anybody have any further info?

Patricia · 07-04-2008, 05:13 PM

I just say 'No thank you' very politely, wish them a good morning and put the phone down. This works every single time.

nekokami · 07-04-2008, 05:46 PM

I say "We don't take sales calls. Please remove us from your list and do not call again." We actually don't get that many sales calls, though. We get a lot of charities wanting us to contribute. I give them the same message: "We do not take solicitations over the phone. If you would like to send me information about your organization via mail, I would be happy to consider it. Please remove us from your list and do not call again."

My understanding is that that last bit is something they have to respect, if you manage to get it in before they hang up. But I haven't formally tracked the results to make sure it works.

I often won't even answer the phone if I can see that it's a sales call (we have caller ID). It drives my teenage daughter crazy, because she thinks the phone should always be answered (preferably by her). So she answers it, comes down, and hands it to me. Once I simply hung up and handed it back to her without even talking with the person at the other end. I knew who it was from caller ID. My daughter was highly irritated. I really have not been able to get her to believe that not all calls are worth answering.

slayda · 07-04-2008, 07:12 PM

If I don't know the caller ID, I just don't answer but let my answering machine do it for me.

07-03-2008, 02:54 PM	#1
Falbe Publishing Gadget Slave Posts: 264 Karma: 600001 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Battle Creek, Michigan Device: Sony PRS505SC	Quick way to block a telemarketer This might only work in the United States, but I just heard from a friend the other day that if you get a marketing call, especially an automated recorded one, immediately press 2 on your phone. This will remove you from that company's phone list. I just tried it with this ridiculous recording that I've been getting trying to sell me a mortgage refinance and it worked! As soon as I pressed 2 I got a message that said I had been removed from the list. Pressing 2 is certainly worth a try in all situations. Even though I'm on the "Do Not Call" list I still get a smattering of telemarketers. Hope this info helps a few people reduce their stupid calls.

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07-03-2008, 03:54 PM	#4
BookishDreamer Cultural Artist Posts: 1,128 Karma: 12829 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Georgia Device: Sony 505, Kindle 2	Wish I'd known about this when I still had a landline phone. Dreamer

07-03-2008, 04:40 PM	#5
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,731 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	I use two strategies to annoy telemarketers. Knowing they are paid by the number of people they contact, I let them go on and on. Then I ask dopey questions and stall around and generally frustrate them. Then act really dumb saying something like, "Oh sorry, I thought this was for a free weekend in a Hilton in London Kentucky not London, England. I'm not allowed to leave the country since the sentencing." They hang up quick and I've succeeded in annoying them more then they have annoyed me. If I want to end it quick and still have some fun, I pretend I work for the company they are calling for: Telemarketer: "Hi, I'm calling on behalf of the Hilton Hotel chain" Me: "Is there something wrong"? Telemarketer: "No I'm calling offer you a free weekend" Me: "But I work for Hilton Sales" Telemarketer: "Oh, sorry, guess you don't need me"

07-03-2008, 04:54 PM	#6
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	(me makes note to pretend to work for the next health insurance / electricity reseller / investment counsellor / kitchen remodel / double pane windows company that calls) a funny blog post about getting rid of telemarketers : http://velcrometer.blogspot.com/2003...ite-daily.html

07-03-2008, 08:08 PM	#7
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,624 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch	I got rid of my landline, don't get any telemarketing calls on my cellphone.

07-04-2008, 05:13 PM	#9
Patricia Reader Posts: 11,504 Karma: 8720163 Join Date: May 2007 Location: South Wales, UK Device: Sony PRS-500, PRS-505, Asus EEEpc 4G	I just say 'No thank you' very politely, wish them a good morning and put the phone down. This works every single time.

07-04-2008, 05:46 PM	#10
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	I say "We don't take sales calls. Please remove us from your list and do not call again." We actually don't get that many sales calls, though. We get a lot of charities wanting us to contribute. I give them the same message: "We do not take solicitations over the phone. If you would like to send me information about your organization via mail, I would be happy to consider it. Please remove us from your list and do not call again." My understanding is that that last bit is something they have to respect, if you manage to get it in before they hang up. But I haven't formally tracked the results to make sure it works. I often won't even answer the phone if I can see that it's a sales call (we have caller ID). It drives my teenage daughter crazy, because she thinks the phone should always be answered (preferably by her). So she answers it, comes down, and hands it to me. Once I simply hung up and handed it back to her without even talking with the person at the other end. I knew who it was from caller ID. My daughter was highly irritated. I really have not been able to get her to believe that not all calls are worth answering.

07-04-2008, 07:12 PM	#11
slayda Retired & reading more! Posts: 2,764 Karma: 1884247 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Alabama, USA Device: Kindle 1, iPad Air 2, iPhone 6S+, Kobo Aura One	If I don't know the caller ID, I just don't answer but let my answering machine do it for me.

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