And now we are getting political calls, the worse!! I'll see them in Nov, don't need them in Aug!!

This seems to have cut down on our annoying calls....when you get these calls and you see by ID that it is telemarketing, pick up the receiver, don't say anything but start pushing the # key over and over and over....with some phone you can just hold it down, others you have to push it repeatedly about ten times. Then when you listen, they have disconnected. Some automated systems will read your # key sounds as a bad number and kick it out.
I have to share a response with you on a call I answered. Credit Card bill reduction, I pressed the key to talk to someone, I said I have told you repeatedly that I am on the do not call list....his response....it doesn't matter...I said don't call here again,,...he said, we will continue to call you because you can't do anything about it! I said, Oh, then I don't have to answer your call, do I? Every time I see your ID you can listen to my phone ring. You can't do anything about making me answer. You will loose money and I will continue to read my book.

Opportunity missed! You should have told her that "Steven just left on his honeymoon, so stop calling"! Lol!

Some fun responses, techniques here. :-! I am one to always let the answering machine get the call if I do not recognize the number , if it turns out I do want to talk to the person I can pick up, if its one of those scammer calls I have a recording of it when I report it (and, yes, I do take the time to report any threatening, or asking for financial info calls) most of the time the telemarketers just hang up without talking.We had one at work a week ago, a foreigner claiming they were working for the IRS & issuing an arrest warrant immediately for (my client who is 90 with Alzheimer's) for
tax fraud (and, have a nice day) I listened to it then used my cellphone to call the FCC - that way I was able to play the message for the investigator.
Always remember folks, the IRS does not call you, they send you letters.... Then, if necessary, a federal marshal will just show up, they don't call & give you opportunity to get away. :-) the FCC investigator said to never return the call, or call back a number that the scammer leaves, that verifies your number for them. And, of course never give out any personal information - don't even verify your name or phone number.

Greatest all time invention: Caller ID!!!!!!! I use it every day, some days, all day long, [sigh]. DH has finally started using it also.

Love the funny way you all are dealing with these numbers!!!!:D

I did answer one a long time ago, and the woman was very rude when I told her off, so she kept calling everyday for a few days, but I recognized the number and didn't answer.

I too love caller ID and the answering machine. I seem to get at least 5 calls on average every day starting at 8 AM and going until 10 PM. If I don't recognize the number I rarely answer. BUT I do love some of the ways you handle the calls.

The only ones I answer and not always these, are people calling for organizations to whom I have contributed and am no longer able to do so. Even then I sometimes need to hang up on them. I was taught never to be rude, so it's difficult but sometimes the only answer. I'm answering fewer and fewer of these because they are truly stressful.

When I get really irritated is when I get letters to send contributions when I know I haven't made the pledge. My shredder is getting lots of use. maybe I'll try the envelope stuffing method; that's a good one.

Thank you everyone for sharing your methods. Even though it must be really frustrating at the time, some of your methods of coping gave me quite a giggle. Thank you for that. Joyce in Delaware

Years ago when I lived in El Paso with my first husband, right after he shipped out to Germany had a phone call, some guy wanting to know if I wanted to F. I said where and when, he slammed the phone down and never called back. I wasn't afraid he would show up at house as we had two 90lb dobermans and a 22. And I do not have a hard time asking what part of NO don't they understand, so our calls have been slacking off, except for political and I hang up on them if I even answer. Thanks for the good laughs ladies, love some of the answers and the murder was a real belly laugh, I can see the poor guy in Colorado.

HaHa! They think you are a senile old lady.

You all are too funny! Great answers to an annoying problem! One more to share with you ... we kept getting mail from a couple of organizations addressed to my husband's ex-wife, well after we were married. I called them and explained that she was no longer at this address and they should stop sending mail here, especially if they wanted her continued support. I still got her mail. I finally started writing "deceased" on it and returning it to them. They stopped mailing her stuff here.

I've had 2 of those. One was a collection agency that kept calling and asking for Larry *****. I'd say there is no Larry ***** here. I"ve had this number for 15 years and there has never been a Larry ***** here. Finally, I just said "You've been calling here and this is not Larry *****'s number. Please don't call anymore" and the guy says "Okay, but do you know Larry ******'s number?" I gave up. All I could think of was "I don't know Larry and if I ever meet him, I may strangle him"

The other one was the woman that called my cell phone looking for some doctor's office. I told her she had the wrong number and hung up. She calls back. I tell her she has the wrong number this is not doctor so-and-so's office. She calls back. I tell her 'this is the same person that you just talked to and it's not your doctor's office' and she says "I know I dialed the right number and this is the doctor's office and I want to make an appointment". My husband told me I should have just said "how is next Tuesday and 9:30?" and made her an appointment. lol