I used to do market research so you would think I would have patience but I don't, especially at dinner time.They call at that time because they know people are at home. The ones that drive me bonkers are the calls that noone is on the other line. I think they are like feeders to see when people are at home then a slew of telemarketers at the same time.

My favorite new game to play with them is to ask if their product or service is free. That usually shakes them up a bit.

A friend of mine used to do that for a little while for extra money. He appreciated it when people just told him right away that they weren't intersted. Then he could go on to the next sucker faster.

I just tell them that I never purchase over the phone, to send it in writing and hang up before they have a chance to respond.

Having won a several real prizes, I can also say that real prizes are awarded through certified mail with signature confirmation/return receipt and comes from the law office administering the sweepstakes. You don't get a phone call. So don't be fooled by that scam.

This is one reason I have caller ID. Even if I didn't, I wouldn't answer the phone during dinnertime. A few times I have picked up the phone, and I always quickly tell them I am not interested, so they know right away.

I always say I am not interested right away too, but what really bugs me is when they dont take no for an answer. I realize they are working from scripts and are "supposed" to say these things, but come on...if I am polite and say no thank you, move on! I will not change my mind the more you pester me and it will turn me off your company even more! I am being polite, please do the same and hang up...otherwise I may have to get rude!!

Hi jiggybeagle,

After you've (courteously) negated/rejected their offer two or three times, ask them, since they've been talking quite a while, whether it's O.K. if you have something to say.

Tell them that you've told them, courteously, two or three times, that you're not interested in their offer/proposal.

Ask them what it is about, "No", that they don't understand.

If you get no answer - ask again. Voice rising at the end of the sentence to indicate a question.

Is it going to be necessary for you to be rude to them, to hit them over the head, for them to get the message?

Let them know that, after you've told them of your uninterest several times, if they persist that you begin to get annoyed.

They have, after all, come into your home uninvited and - lacking an invitation - possibly at an inconvenient time.

Ask them what they think their chances may be of getting a prospective customer to change his/her mind if, after they've recommended their project several times, that person has turned the idea down several times?

Assure them that it ain't gonna happen - just get you quite irritated.

Enough that, when you hear of their product again, though by then you might have thought of trying it, that the bad taste left in your mouth after this episode may cause you to decide against it.

Ask whether they can see that as a possible outcome of their persistence.

That, at this point, they're just wasting their time - and yours.

Keep up the good work.

joyful guy

Research surveyors can call themselves whatever they want, they're nothing but telemarketer scum.

Facts:

• Telemarketing is a $400 billion a year business.

• Americans lose $40 billion a year to fraudulent
  telemarketers.

• 56% of the people targeted by telemarketers are 50 or older

• Telemarketers have the fire power to make 560 calls per
  second (24 million per day).

• Charities make more money from selling your name and number
  to the other telemarketing companies than from the donations they collect
  from calling.

• On average, only 24% of what you donate as a result of a
  telemarketing call will actually get to the charity on whose behalf the
  solicitation is made. The telemarketing company hired to make the call gets
  the rest.

• The average American gets called 2 to 3 times per day by a
  telemarketer.

• The FBI estimates that there are 14,000 illegal sales
  operations bilking consumers in the United States every day.

• The same telemarketer will often call an elderly person day
  after day, building a relationship with the target, until he/she thinks a
  friend, not a stranger is trying to sell them something.

• 92% of the adults in the United States have reported
  receiving fraudulent telephone offers.

• The Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991, ostensibly
  passed to protect consumers from telemarketers, has proven ineffective due
  to numerous loopholes.

Here's a few good sites for more info:

http://www.ecofuture.org/jmlinks.html

http://www.netmegs.com/koncepts/telemark.htm

http://antitelemarketer.bizland.com/index2k18x6.htm

How do they keep doing it? Telemarketers have a powerful lobbying group that throws money at our elected officials and tell them people like to get calls!

I personally will NEVER buy anything from a telemarketer or a spammer. Sadly many people do.

There's a lot of ways to fight them and regain some privacy. It took years, but my junk mail and junk phone calls are next to nothing.

Ken

If you live in Missouri (and probably some other states) you can get on the "no call" list. Telemarketers that still call you are fined for every call they make to a person on the no call list. Since joining, our telemarketing calls have gone to zero.

Exceptions to Missouri's no call list are companies you are already doing business with and charities. I don't get many of those either.

There is talk of a national no-call list, but with their strong lobby, it will probably have many more loopholes. Best advice: HANG UP!