National "do not call" registry (telemarketers)

[lillypaddle]

Register your phone here, and the calls will stop: https://www.donotcall.gov/

I think there may be a separate registry for cell phones, I'm not sure. Google it if this registry doesn't cover cell phones.

Figured this was worthy of it's own thread.

[hippywife]

1. It doesn't work for non-profits

so there are still some calls coming in since I did this last year. Most of them are now recorded messages so you have to listen to the whole thing in order to get the option to remove your number from their list.

I'm even getting calls on our work phones now like crazy! :crazy:

ETA: it really does cut out the other sales calls that are so annoying, tho. :hi:

[hobbit709]

2. Or political.

[hippywife]

3. Correct. n/t

[noamnety]

6. I'm so sick of that!

During the summer my hours are shifted around.

Three days last week I got 6 hours sleep or less because of unsolicited calls. I was so exhausted I just wanted to cry.

[hippywife]

7. Can you just turn the ringer down or off?

I know it's hard to do if you've got family who may want to reach you in case of an emergency. Maybe keep your cellphone by your side so your husband can reach you just in case, and turn off the land line ringer, maybe.

:hug:

[noamnety]

8. I have it on for the family

I don't use a cell phone, just the landline. Even without the ringer, the answering machine is loud enough it wakes me. The worst is when they hang up too early on the answering machine. It beeps FOREVER, really loudly.

I know the telemarketers are trying to feed their families, but jesus, I would never take a job that required me to go into people's houses and jar them awake without their permission at random times. Being on the receiving end of it, I'm not seeing all that much difference.

[Kat45]

10. And companies you already do business with can still call you

So your credit card company or cable company can call you to try to sell you other services. I have cable and internet with Comcast and they periodically call me trying to get me to also buy their phone service. As a matter of fact, I've been seeing 'Comcast' on my caller ID just about every day for the past week or two.

[bikebloke]

4. It helps some.

They have a go-around, by calling from India. The harrassment calls aren't as bad as they used to be, though. And the Do-Not-Call list doesn't prevent campaign spam during election time.

I've started letting my voice machine filter calls. I don't even leave an intro, but have the robo-voice in the machine answer. Anyway, I don't like talking on the phone to even people I know.

[tabbycat31]

9. campaign call tip

If it's a candidate you plan on voting for, early on identify yourself as a supporter. THen they'll leave you alone until GOTV time and vote early if possible. They're volunteers doing the dirty job of phone banking. I'm super super nice to anyone who phone banks me.

[UTUSN]

5. It works for me. Haven't had those calls for years.

This friend claims to be flooded by them and doesn't get around to doing the do-not-call thing.

Also, I think I've managed to reduce the junk mail by calling their 800 #s and asking to be taking off their mailing lists. For a couple of weeks I called just about every sender of junk. Maybe don't have to call every one of them because they all get their lists from only 3 or 4 credit ratings souces, don't they. Anyway, I'm clipping far fewer shipping address labels for shredding these days.