Ah, I just remembered one of the things that bothers me the most. When the caller says "Sounds like you hate getting these calls as much as I hate making them." The first time I thought it was cute and listened to what the guy had to say, but now I just hang up, I've heard it too many times.

Again, let me say that I've BEEN there! Trust me, no one would take a job doing telemarketing unless they were desperate to put food on the table.

Please, try to follow the Golden Rule and do unto others as you would wish to be done unto. Please don't be rude to these poor people unless and until they're rude to you. Believe me, the rude ones are REALLY new to the game, and won't be around long.

That said, I DO support reporting rude TMs to the company they are soliciting for. I eked out a living at this for three years---I KNOW it's possible to do the job AND be courteous to people.

The one I couldn't help myself on was when one called and asked to speak to Mr.Moo. I let her know that he wasn't home at the time. She responded with "Is his wife at home then? May I speak to her?" I just couldn't help myself, the words FLEW out of my mouth before I could even think to stop them..... "I hope she's not home, because if she is, I am in BIG trouble!"

As I said in my first post, I am never rude and I do appreciate that many are trying to earn a living. But some of them just won't take NO for an answer. That's when it ceases to be "making a living" and becomes "harassment".

Oh yes, did we mention the one thing that does really set my nerves on edge..."Am I speaking to the lady of the house?"
You know, that kind of thing, from a guy, when I've got better things to do, just irks me...and so I'll invariably say, "no, she's not here, she's out to lunch permanently." Actually there's no good way to say that in French, they only did it in the States, normally for double glazed windows or things like that. Which I already had.

The one good telemarketing thing is phone companies in the States...I mean, I drove some hard bargains there! I surfed for a full year on several plans as I needed a good long distance plan with international coverage, so they had to do their job. I remember getting about three one hundred dollar checks to switch companies. I figured if they were going to bother me, I'd see if they'd up the ante. I'd tell them, "ok how much would you charge after five o'clock for a call to x? "
They'd calculate..then I'd give them about five more...
I'd normally end up with a free offer, and if the service was good, I'd stay for a few more months. Only problem was, before anyone made a call, they'd cry out, "which company do we have this month?" "MCI, you can go ahead and make the call."
Those days may have ended by now though.

In France we receive targeted marketing calls for our cell phones...and those are pretty good deals, as they base it on what you use. I've got a really good plan, brand new phone, they base it on a print out of my usage.

So as I've done major grunge jobs in my life, I'll always give people the benefit of the doubt. However, if I have requested they not call us back and they do, then I will be very very firm.

MSBatt, I admire you for doing that for three years! Lord!
I've probably done about five years of my life in major telephone work, but not sales really, and man, it's a hard life.
Anonymity breeds contempt.

TO AVOID GETTING CALLS I HAVE AN UPUBLISHED PHONE NO. ONE DAYONE SLIPPED THROUGH AND THE FIRST QUESTION OUT OF MY MOUTH WAS HOW DID HE GET MY PHONE NOTHE ANSWER WILL ASTOUND YOU HE SAID THAT THEY GOT IT FROM MY BANK OF ALL THE PLACES YOU WOULD THINK THAT THE BANK WOULD BE OF COMPLETE SECURITYAND YOUR PRIVACY PRTECTED BUT I GUESS NOTHING IS SACRED ANY MORE

In most U.S. states the magic words are, "Please put me on your do not call list." In many places, they are required by law to do this.

The most fun is when they call and ask for my dead father. I bought my parents' house, so I still have the same number, for now. When they ask for him, I just say, "I'm sorry, he can't come to the phone right now. He's dead." The reactions are very funny. My Mom did this once, however, and the reply was, "Oh my God! What happened? I just saw him yesterday!" It turned out the guy was calling for another person who happened to have the same name as my father; he had looked it up in the phone book and gotten the wrong number.

Move to a foreign country.
They can't tell you all that in English.
After about one sentence in Cantonese I stop them and say I dont understand.
You could say "Je ne comprend pas du tout"or something!

Ren, with my luck, I'd get one that spoke fluent French!

Lol!! Well maybe not your particular patois??

Get the message translated into Klingon then learn it off by heart.

Great idea, Sue!

I used to be bombarded daily.....double glazing, fitted kitchen, fitted bedroom, conservatory, even wills, until I signed up with the telephone preference society. Now I don't get any at all. Bliss.