There are a couple of shopping sites I've gone to that make you log in before you can even shop their wares. You have to give them your name, email, etc. to create a userid. As soon as I see that I just go elsewhere. I understand some of them have great deals but I'll never know as long as they have that policy.

I am on the Do Not Call list, but if 'they' get your number in the manner stated above, you are free game! I DO answer those 'junk' calls & tell them to remove my #. When asked for money, I tell them 'I only give locally' If I have a message on the machine. Many times I call back & if you listen, there is a message there 'if you want to discontinue receiving calls, press 1 or2...

Do not pay with checks in retail stores, do not give out phone number. If it's required then I agree, make up a number. Also don't forget to register your real phone numbers with the "do not call registry". Just google it and you will find it. You have to re-do it every couple years.

I enter contest all the time and win a lot of free items during the year. I've yet to enter under my real name or ever entered my real phone number. I use a free email account just for entering or registering on sites. If I win, I get an email. I send the address where to send the item. All you need to do is fill in the blanks with something. Reminds me of when I was divorced and had trouble with ex's medical insurance and my insurance when filing claims for the kids. My insurance wouldn't accept the fact ex had lapsed insurance, kept filing on it wanting it to pay first. Finally after filling out the forms for the fourth time it kept asking for Father's name and insurance. In frustration I put Father: Unknown. The bill was paid and no more hassles from then on.

I do realize that people of a different age and time would never even consider this BUT I pay for my phone for my use. It is not there for you. If I do not know your name/number (caller ID) I will not answer. Period.

I know, my grandmother would consider that the height of rudeness, but it is a different world, same if someone knocks on the door.

Years ago, a friend was asked for employment info when she was cashing a check....she said she was a prostitute and her husband was in prison. True story. And when our state had drivers license renewals issued on punched cards, someone presented it for payment and the merchant cashed it! Once, I attended an auction and was asked for my SS# at registration...I refused, told them it was illegal...they insisted...I left.

Exactly. Like "get this free'. You then are inundated with nothing but telemktrs. I don't need anything that bad for free. Free always comes with a price.

I just smile and say I don't have a phone and leave it at that. No one has ever turned me and my money away. I expect they have their own dummy number to input.

On the other hand I do give my zip code if they ask and I'm shopping out of town. They use those demographics when adding more stores. If I'm shopping there it is a store I'd like to have in my area. Win Win.

I know what you mean. When I'm getting out of shower and the phone rings or there's a knock at the door, I have a knee-jerk reaction to respond, but then I remind myself that I don't *have* to respond to someone just because they want my attention.