Have you had it with telemarketers? Are you just about ready to murder the next one that dares to call your house? Don’t their calls always come the moment you are about to sit down to dinner or watch your favorite television show? And isn’t it wonderful when they get your name wrong and/or struggle with the pronunciation? When they do, I love to correct them. I spell my first, middle and last name as many times as I can get away with, regretting only that they aren’t longer and more difficult to spell and pronounce.
I often wonder if there isn’t an underground school that teaches these people how to be rude, intrusive and about as welcome in anyone’s home as a horde of ants at a picnic lunch. I know there are such schools for the fine art of pick-pocketing somewhere in South America. (Actually, I’d rather deal with one of them. They might rob me blind, but at least they do it when I am not looking and don’t waste any of my time!)
Out of the goodness of my heart, I shall share a secret approach that has never ceased to fail. (I tried it on my ex in-laws, but it works just as well on telemarketers.) Put the phone down or inside a drawer after asking the pest in question to hang on for just a second. (This may be difficult the first time around, but trust me, it gets easier each time you do it.) Then go about your business. The only problems with this approach is that one never has the satisfaction of knowing exactly how much time has been wasted and/or what calls were missed while the line was engaged. Still, it is all worth it because when one returns to the phone a half-hour later there is never anyone waiting on the line!
Many people don’t know there is a federal law that regulates telemarketing activities. Even some telemarketers don’t know that they are subject to these provisions, which puts us ahead of the game. The Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 states, among other things, that telemarketers must keep a “do not call” list. When and if consumers request that their names be placed on that list, the company is barred from calling them again for a period of 10 years! The law also permits telemarketing calls within the hours of 8AM and 9PM. Only two classes of callers are exempt from the law: public opinion polls and tax exempt charities.
Don’t ever be shy about hanging up unless MGM or Warner Brothers is calling. (I would question that caller at length as well before giving them any information). Remember that your phone line is no different than the door to your home. You don’t have to open it to let people in and you have the right to ask anyone to leave at any time.
How do YOU fell about telemarketers calling your home? Please share your experiences?