How to Prevent Telemarketers From Calling

Hang up on telemarketers for good.

Telemarketing is a 100 billion dollar industry, so it's no wonder those pesky telemarketers won't stop calling your house. Entrusting your personal information to a stranger over the phone is never a good idea, especially since it is so difficult to decipher all the scams out there. Instead of turning your phone off or slamming the receiver down in its cradle for the hundredth time, there are steps you can take to reduce or eliminate their calls altogether.

Things You'll Need

• Phone

Instructions

Arrangements

1. Answer the phone when telemarketers call and then ask them politely to remove you from their call list by placing you on their Do Not Call list.

2. Follow the instructions provided to you by the representative you are speaking with if they cannot perform the request to remove you from their call list themselves. Often telemarketers do not have the authority or access to the database necessary to perform such a request, and you will need to call the company back to speak to a representative in the customer service department. Each company operates differently, and it is prudent for you to follow the directions given to you for the company you are speaking with.

3. Call your telephone provider to make your number unlisted, so your telephone number is no longer publicly accessible. Telemarketing companies often compile their original cold-call list from public directories.

4. Register for the National Do Not Call List (DNCL) for your country online. Simply enter your phone number in the website and follow the confirmation prompts, and your number will be placed on the Do Not Call List within a month. In the United States visit: https://www.donotcall.gov/register/reg.aspx, and in Canada visit: https://www.lnnte-dncl.gc.ca/insnum-regnum-eng

Tips & Warnings

• Be polite to telemarketers. They are more likely to follow through with a request if you are one of the few people who were pleasant with them that day.

• Read the fine print when signing up for subscriptions, and follow the directions to see that your contact information isn't shared with other companies "you might be interested in."

• When you asked to be removed from a telemarketers call list, it may take up to a month for your information to be removed from circulation.

• Unlisting your number will only prevent future companies from getting public access to your contact information; it will not prevent calls from telemarketers who already have your contact information in their database.

References

• Direct Marketing Association: Telemarketing Industry Stats and Facts

Resources

• National Do Not Call Registry
• National Do Not Call List: Register My Number
• California Department of Consumer Affairs: Basic Facts About Telemarketing