My solution to the problem is to just not answer the phone. I have every number associated with us listed with every do not call list. There is also a service - free - called 'nomorobo' which also helps. I was having particular issues with a specific telemarketer tonthe point I finally took the time to find a person to speak with at the FCC. His advice was to not even answer the call. If you engage them, they are more apt to call repeatedly. I also have my caller id visible on the tv screen so it is easier for me to see. If its not a number that is familiar, I don't answer...it goes to the machine. If it ends up that I do need to speak to that person, I can still pick up the call.

I have not had a home phone land line for over 12 years and I never receive these kinds of calls on my cell.

I *have* noticed I've received a few text messages from weird #s, usually with weird random letters in the message. I just text reply with "remove" and they seem to stop.

Jan in VA

We keep our phone on MUTE, so we don't have to deal with them. They never leave a message of course!

Wow! I've gotten some good ideas from this thread. LOL

I tried to sell him insurance , all I. Heard was click.

I had a telemarketer tell me I had filled out a card for some dumb prize in Myrtle Beach on a day when I was in Ohio. He kept telling me I was mistaken. I kept saying no, I know where i was that day because blah, blah, blah.

It would have been funny except for how incredibly stupid he thought I was!

This is the best response yet!

I have one.... I got a call from a woman asking for Steven ***....i said, "sorry, you have a wrong number" and hung up. The phone rang again immediately. I answered and the woman said "you hung up on me- i want to talk to Steven ***" I said "yes, i hung up because there is no Steven here."
Her reply...."Well I think there is !!"
I won't tell you the rest - suffice to say it went down hill from there before I hung up again.

I mail back junk mail all the time, however, I find that I still get advertising. The other day, my husband got a letter that would give him better health coverage than he has now. I called their company and told them "I don't think so - my husband died last year and is Heaven and they don't worry about health insurance anymore. They don't have to worry about anything anymore. Please take his name off your list AGAIN!" Edie

A friend recently told me to tell the caller "Well, I can either buy my medications or do what you want, what do you think I should do?" So far it is working for me. hehehe