
This post isn’t meant to bash Telemarketers because we all know that they’re just trying to make a living and feed themselves. However, that doesn’t mean that they don’t annoy the poop out of us. More on that in a moment.
We’ve been seeing an increase in calls (and no it has nothing to do with me entering contests) so I thought that I would try and come up with some strategies. Clearly having the kids scream at the top of their lungs did nothing to deter them because they called one and a half hours later. So I did what every sane person would do and I posted a question to my Facebook Page.
Speaking of which, if you don’t follow me on Facebook, why? Don’t answer that question unless I really need to know. Instead, hop on over to my Facebook Page and like it. Okay. I’ll wait.
Drums fingers.
Kills Mosquito.
Gets glass of water.
Many of you were willing to come to my aide. The ideas came pouring in. The only problem is that with each new one came a snort and with each snort, water came out my nose. I’d like to thank you for your ideas. But not the the water coming out the nose. That’s no laughing matter.
Any hoo, your comments were so priceless that I just had to share. Here are some of my favourites, in no particular order…
- Tell them you have to poop,
- Give the phone to your kids after telling them it is Santa calling early,
- Say you’re the home owners mistress and not allowed to make financial decisions,
- Pull a Seinfeld episode. Tell then you are busy and ask for their number so you can call them back later,
- Tell them that the only credit card you have is for work. When they tell you that’s okay, ask if they accept special credit cards from police stations,
- Tell them that they’ve called in the middle of an investigation are are now a witness,
- Pretend to speak a foreign language Knowing my luck, they’d speak Spanish,
- If it’s something like air duct cleaning then say the ducks flew away Or say that the refrigerator is running and you have to go catch it,
- Tell them you don’t have a phone,
- Play 20 questions. Starting with their age, where they live, favourite colour, what they’re wearing. Ask them one after the other so they don’t have time to respond.
So, chime in.
What Do You Do When Telemarketers Call?
Thanks to Chelle for the photo.
Best answer: ask to be removed immediately from their calling list.
We have our phone number on the National Do Not Call List. This has helped a lot! We don’t have any telemarketers calling us. you get the odd one, but i just politely decline and then hang up.
Get rid of the home phone! lol.. Since getting rid of ours, the telemarketing calls have pretty much stopped. I do get the odd one on my cell, but not very often.
My brother tells them I’m in prison because the last telemarketer called me on a bad day.
Stephanie LaPlante recently posted…FunDayMental Friday
Oh what a laugh. I generally get into an odd debate about something random. They hang up on me first more often than not.
I think I’ll try backwards obscene calling next time. They call and I’ll breath heavy and moan. 😉
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I asked them for their phone number and said I would sic the police on them because I was on a ‘no call’ list. The guy got really upset but I don’t think he called me again.
I’m unfortunately too nice for my own darn good and I sit there and talk to them. Although I will say if I had any kids or any kids walking in my vicinity, I’d TOTALLY tell them it’s Santa and let them go to town 🙂
Some of those strategies are TOO funny!
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Dear Kayla,
Don’t change. We love you just the way you are.
Besos, Sarah
Sarah recently posted…Support Your Child’s Musical Interests at Rock My House Music Centre
I really feel for telemarketers – what a crappy job, and one that I don’t think people would do out of choice. 😉 Get call display. I never answer a call from a number I don’t recognize. Pair that with voicemail and you have it made!
Dear Rene,
We have call display, how can you tell if it’s a Telemarketer!? As for voicemail, the ones we get just keep calling and calling and calling and, you get it until they get someone.
Besos, Sarah
Sarah recently posted…Whether We’re Talking Apples or Kids, I Have Triplets #babyloss
I tell them I am on the national Do Not Call List, and I report them.
AlwaysARedhead recently posted…My girlie parts are crooked and rocks look like canoes
Dear AlwaysARedhead,
We haven’t added our name to the “Do Not Call List” because we heard that people get more calls that way. Besides, Americans aren’t bound by it. I wish people wouldn’t sell lists.
Besos, Sarah
Sarah recently posted…Ideas for Getting Your Child to Eat
I usually don’t answer those calls, but when I do, I just interrupt them, tell them I’m not interested, and please take me off their list. I cut to the chase. It may be a bit rude but, it stops them right away and they don’t waste any more of my time…or theirs! I do feel sorry for those having to do the job though. My first job was as a telemarketer…I lasted one week. Couldn’t stand it. Love this list, Sarah!! Made me laugh 🙂
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Dear Sandy,
I find myself listening to the beginning of their script because I feel really badly and can’t think of a nice way to say “No”. I don’t know how long I would have lasted as a Telemarketer but I think you did great making it to a week.
Besos, Sarah
Sarah recently posted…One of Many Reasons Why I Live In The Country
I love toying with duct cleaners. “No ducks, what’s your rate on geese?” gets them every time. As for the computer scams…I just tell them I don’t have a computer. or if I’m feeling really dramatic I will say “Oh my goodness Frank it’s the government.. they know what you’re planning. Abort abort!!!!”. (No frank in the house…).strangley they never want to talk after that.
I never answer the phone if the number is unrecognizable. We have an answering machine for serious callers to leave messages.
I usually hang up.
Most times I hang up. But I’ve also been known to give the phone to my toddler. I like the way Jerry Seinfeld handled it too! Must try.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hllDWSbuDsQ
Dear Laurie,
I wish that I had the nerve to do what Jerry did. Hilarious and so true.
Besos, Sarah
Sarah recently posted…Creating Stop Motion Animation with MonkeyJam #tutorial
Just skipped over to check you out from freprintablefun.org and I must say that I could stay here and just check out the fun stuff you have for hours..but to get to this topic…
My boy/girlfriends (they must be in a serious relationship with me for they call me several times each day!) call me from ADT (as I said) several times most days. I have started telling them (just as soon as they say who they are and what company they work for) that I am neither a home owner or credit card holder and my pit-bulls and .38 Special are all the protection I need…the see that I am calling from KY and assume that I am a crazy lady! Some, however do not stop there…I then tell them that my boy Buck says that if they call again he’s gonna track them down with said pit-bulls…
I don’t have any pets, don’t own a gun, and am not related to any “Buck” but I get a kick out of it! 🙂
Dear Stephanie,
Water just came out my nose.
P.S. Thanks for the kind words. Your blog is fun too!
P.P.S. I have a Bull Terrier (cousin to the Pit Bull) and she’d probably lick the person to death.
Besos, Sarah
Sarah recently posted…Support Your Child’s Musical Interests at Rock My House Music Centre
They call couple of times a month,i just hang up
I use the broken record technique.
Dear Elaine,
My husband did that last night and it worked! After 4,621 times of saying “I’m so excited”, the Telemarketer hung up. Here’s to many more successful outcomes.
Besos, Sarah
Sarah recently posted…Preparing for an Extended Road Trip #Checklist #Travel
Haha love those ideas!!! I ususally just dont answer and than I block the number so they cannot call me again!
i just hang up
I usually just hang up on them
blowing a loud whistle is something i always think of doing
I use to say right away not interested and then hang up, but now since we got rid of our house phone no more pesky calls
It depends on if its just a survey or they are selling me something. If its a survey depending on the length I may do it! If they are selling something I hang up! As long as I get their # I can add it to my reject list and they will never be able to call again!!! MUHAHAHAHA!
I do feel sorry for the poor people having to do this job, they must suffer an awful lot of abuse when they call. Asking to be removed immediately from their calling list doesn’t seem to have helped any. Now I just say not interested and hang up, saving both of us time.
I usually hang up when I hear someone mangling my name. I did, however, tell one fellow that I wanted his number so I could sic the police on him. He was extremely agitated and sputtered for a while. He did not call again for a long time but I am still getting calls. I just hang up.
Great answer, you have given to us. This is great way to get rid of telemarketing calls.