How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?

[JaniceSW]

I have been deluged with calls from Medicare insurers and auto warranty places over the past month or two. I am usually decent to these people but do make the call short. I finally stopped answering if I didn't recognize the number, and when I did answer, I finally had to get very short and stern with some of them.  Between not answering (most of the time) and getting a bit nasty, I notice the number of calls have dropped considerably these last several weeks. Or maybe they were all on Christmas Break! LOL!! Oh, and the last several that I answered, I just hung up when they identified themselves!

[linderlizzie]

I say hello, wait a second or two and then hang up on them. Now that I have caller ID, if I don't recognize the number I won't answer.

If I have the time to deal with it, I'll wait until they identify themselves and then ask them to take me off their list.

I've signed up on "don't call" lists, but it doesn't seem to work if you keep doing surveys where they ask your phone number.

Isn't it terrible that the phone has turned into such a monstrosity? 

[lguzman1]

I tell them I'm not interested, thank you and hang up.

[BATISTAGIRL663]

i also just answer and let them do their spew then i tell them i am not interested and hang up - i try to stay nice but sometimes they don't give up and my evil demon has to come out !! lol

[bremer51]

I don't answer the phone.  Three years ago I made an online inquiry about Social Security disability for a relative of mine.  I'm still getting calls from an agency who will help me with it for a "small"
fee.  I've told them 30 times that the situation had been resolved.  I want to scream.  However, the people who call are just normal folks trying to make a living, so I try to be polite.

[autumnsparklemom]

I try to do funnies if they call my cell phone - like tell them I want a large pizza or something of the sort. Usually they are the ones hanging up on me.

[BlackSheepNY]

I have been deluged with calls from Medicare insurers and auto warranty places over the past month or two. I am usually decent to these people but do make the call short. I finally stopped answering if I didn't recognize the number, and when I did answer, I finally had to get very short and stern with some of them.  Between not answering (most of the time) and getting a bit nasty, I notice the number of calls have dropped considerably these last several weeks. Or maybe they were all on Christmas Break! LOL!! Oh, and the last several that I answered, I just hung up when they identified themselves!

Depending on how frisky I'm feeling when these a-holes call, I'll either pick up and hang up or I'll scream in to the phone to deafen the louses.  Yeah, I know, it's a nasty thing to do, but oh well, then don't call me, I'll call you.

[6265AT99]

LOL - I get those calls on a regular basis and have learned to just ignore the phone.  I check the caller I.D. and if the call is from someone I don't recognize, I don't bother answering.

[countrygirl12]

I don't answer the phone if I do not recognize the phone number.  If I do accidentally answer I just hang up.  I don't sit there and argue with or cuss the person calling.  Just causes you more problems down the road.

[michele2042]

Like others have said I don't answer the number if I don't recognize it.   If they call more than once I will do an online search to find out who it is and usually it's something to do with insurance, etc.  On my cell I then block the number but it seems they just change the number they call from.   I'm going to get a whistle and start answering and blow as hard as I can into the whistle.   99% of them are unsolicited and I want them to stop.

[makeblessed]

We have caller ID, just do not answer phone for numbers or people we do not recognize, we figure they can always leave a message if it's that important of course most do not!

[davissy]

I hate those calls.  We are on the National Do Not Call Registry but we still get those marketing calls/robocalls/ and even IRS scams!

[mrisha]

Initially, i used a call blocker, but it was causing problems on my line.  Now, if it's an unknown number I don't answer my phone. 

[aflyingmonkey]

I don't pick up the call & then I block it.

[nannycoe1]

Hang up