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Discussion Boards => Off-Topic => Topic started by: JaniceSW on January 02, 2017, 09:01:15 am

Title: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: JaniceSW on January 02, 2017, 09:01:15 am
I have been deluged with calls from Medicare insurers and auto warranty places over the past month or two. I am usually decent to these people but do make the call short. I finally stopped answering if I didn't recognize the number, and when I did answer, I finally had to get very short and stern with some of them.  Between not answering (most of the time) and getting a bit nasty, I notice the number of calls have dropped considerably these last several weeks. Or maybe they were all on Christmas Break! LOL!! Oh, and the last several that I answered, I just hung up when they identified themselves!
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: linderlizzie on January 02, 2017, 09:23:09 am
I say hello, wait a second or two and then hang up on them. Now that I have caller ID, if I don't recognize the number I won't answer.

If I have the time to deal with it, I'll wait until they identify themselves and then ask them to take me off their list.

I've signed up on "don't call" lists, but it doesn't seem to work if you keep doing surveys where they ask your phone number.

Isn't it terrible that the phone has turned into such a monstrosity?  :'(
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: lguzman1 on January 02, 2017, 09:32:01 am
I tell them I'm not interested, thank you and hang up.
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: BATISTAGIRL663 on January 02, 2017, 10:44:57 am
i also just answer and let them do their spew then i tell them i am not interested and hang up - i try to stay nice but sometimes they don't give up and my evil demon has to come out !! lol
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: bremer51 on January 02, 2017, 11:11:08 am
I don't answer the phone.  Three years ago I made an online inquiry about Social Security disability for a relative of mine.  I'm still getting calls from an agency who will help me with it for a "small"
fee.  I've told them 30 times that the situation had been resolved.  I want to scream.  However, the people who call are just normal folks trying to make a living, so I try to be polite.
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: autumnsparklemom on January 02, 2017, 11:17:31 am
I try to do funnies if they call my cell phone - like tell them I want a large pizza or something of the sort. Usually they are the ones hanging up on me.
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: BlackSheepNY on January 02, 2017, 11:19:53 am
I have been deluged with calls from Medicare insurers and auto warranty places over the past month or two. I am usually decent to these people but do make the call short. I finally stopped answering if I didn't recognize the number, and when I did answer, I finally had to get very short and stern with some of them.  Between not answering (most of the time) and getting a bit nasty, I notice the number of calls have dropped considerably these last several weeks. Or maybe they were all on Christmas Break! LOL!! Oh, and the last several that I answered, I just hung up when they identified themselves!

Depending on how frisky I'm feeling when these a-holes call, I'll either pick up and hang up or I'll scream in to the phone to deafen the louses.  Yeah, I know, it's a nasty thing to do, but oh well, then don't call me, I'll call you.
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: 6265AT99 on January 02, 2017, 11:37:44 am
LOL - I get those calls on a regular basis and have learned to just ignore the phone.  I check the caller I.D. and if the call is from someone I don't recognize, I don't bother answering.
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: countrygirl12 on January 02, 2017, 12:06:14 pm
I don't answer the phone if I do not recognize the phone number.  If I do accidentally answer I just hang up.  I don't sit there and argue with or cuss the person calling.  Just causes you more problems down the road.
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: michele2042 on January 02, 2017, 01:09:00 pm
Like others have said I don't answer the number if I don't recognize it.   If they call more than once I will do an online search to find out who it is and usually it's something to do with insurance, etc.  On my cell I then block the number but it seems they just change the number they call from.   I'm going to get a whistle and start answering and blow as hard as I can into the whistle.   99% of them are unsolicited and I want them to stop.
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: makeblessed on January 02, 2017, 01:29:10 pm
We have caller ID, just do not answer phone for numbers or people we do not recognize, we figure they can always leave a message if it's that important of course most do not!
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: davissy on January 02, 2017, 02:25:36 pm
I hate those calls.  We are on the National Do Not Call Registry but we still get those marketing calls/robocalls/ and even IRS scams!
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: mrisha on January 02, 2017, 04:22:59 pm
Initially, i used a call blocker, but it was causing problems on my line.  Now, if it's an unknown number I don't answer my phone. 
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: aflyingmonkey on January 02, 2017, 04:26:42 pm
I don't pick up the call & then I block it.
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: nannycoe1 on January 03, 2017, 05:31:34 am
Hang up
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: madeara on January 03, 2017, 06:02:32 am
I don't pick up the phone.
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: oldbuddy on January 03, 2017, 06:04:13 am
Since I know they have a loser job they probably hate, I try to get them as a referral.
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: gaylasue on January 03, 2017, 06:16:59 am
If I don't recognize the number, I don't answer the calls.  If it is an important call, the caller will leave a message.  If not, I ignore it.
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: Gerianne on January 03, 2017, 07:19:14 am
I block their phone number.
Someone told me that it's best not to answer the call at all; not even pick up the phone.
If you do, that shows interest and you don't want to show them the slightest bit.
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: betlynjua on January 03, 2017, 07:30:22 am
On our business phone, my husband probably gets around 50 or so calls a day.  Some are legitimate customers while many others are telemarketers. 

Both of us have gotten very good at not picking up when the number is not recognized or hanging up immediately when it's a sales call.
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: sfreeman8 on January 03, 2017, 07:40:36 am
I have an answering system that my message states "If you are calling to sell something, forget it. I'm broke." :) A lot of them do stop calling. I also have Caller ID and usually I don't answer the call except.....

for the persistent ones (usually foreign speaking and/or those stating they're from Microsoft) when I'm in the mood to answer, I just tell them I'm on the FEDERAL Do Not Call list and if you call again, I WILL report you. That usually stops them.

Right now I'm getting a bunch of daily recorded calls  telling me I qualify for student loan forgiveness. That's nice but I have never had a student loan. i even went so far as to choose #1 (talk to a representative) and told them about the Do not call list, but it didn't stop them.  So they will be reported.
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: gaby_ro_2004 on January 03, 2017, 08:01:45 am
I blocked them but if i want to have fun i start to talk in my language(romanian)and they try to speak french,spanish or hang up after they realized they have no idea what to do.They never call back. :)
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: ljrjess69 on January 03, 2017, 09:34:03 am
i just hang up on them,,,,,,,,,, :thumbsup:
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: o2bnocn on January 03, 2017, 09:48:19 am
I really don't get them very often. I usually just say I'm not interested and then hang up. Most of them are very pushy if you stay on the phone.
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: judylucas on January 03, 2017, 09:52:17 am
I too never answer if I don't recognize the number
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: metsrock69 on January 03, 2017, 01:51:59 pm
thank god for caller Id. If there is a number I don't recognize, I don't pick up the phone. thats the good thing about having a smartphone and a landline. I give people I don't want to talk to the landline number :)
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: vickysue on January 03, 2017, 04:20:06 pm
A lot of times i just hit answer then hang up,  but if it a call with one of the 2 prefixes i answer it.   But so man times is a sales person wanting to sell me something or i have won a free trip (yeah right) .  Or it is a scam. those really tick me off. The one about the IRS or another one about the jury duty, i get a little ticked and end up telling them off.  Do not call   does not work. Some times i act like i don't know what they are talking about and just  jabber on until they get tired of me.
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: patapon555 on January 03, 2017, 09:33:43 pm
If I'm feeling nice, I'll hang up. If I am not having it, I'll let them know and give it to their face.
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: bleyd on January 04, 2017, 07:37:03 am
I register my numbers on the Do Not Call Registry. If I receive a call I dont recognize, I dont answer it. And block it.
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: amyDAST on January 04, 2017, 07:43:51 am
I used to give the phone to my kids when they were toddlers because they loved the phone. Now that my kids are older I always act like I don't speak English and say huh over & over. They don't call us often at all.  :confused1:
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: braggin on January 04, 2017, 01:07:28 pm
I use caller ID on all calls and don't take a call if I don't recognize the name or number. So I don't take any unsolicited sales calls at all.
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: catchow on January 04, 2017, 01:27:43 pm
I have caller ID, so I ignore them and let the phone ring, however some are calling 3-4 times a day, those usually get a very nasty response from me, Im tired of it!

My phone wont block calls, Ive tried it before, and for some reason blocked ALL calls coming in. It doesnt do any good tho, they just keep calling doesnt matter if I have asked them to stop a dozen times, you would think if they have called a person 30 times and they dont answer they wont, but these idiots dont catch on
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: ghunter on January 04, 2017, 01:43:48 pm
I just hang up and I have caller ID
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: cathy37 on January 04, 2017, 02:33:44 pm
It is very simple.  If I don't recognize the number, I do not answer the phone.  If they continue to call I block the number.
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: plennis on January 04, 2017, 03:38:04 pm
I say hello, wait a second or two and then hang up on them. Now that I have caller ID, if I don't recognize the number I won't answer.

If I have the time to deal with it, I'll wait until they identify themselves and then ask them to take me off their list.

I've signed up on "don't call" lists, but it doesn't seem to work if you keep doing surveys where they ask your phone number.

Isn't it terrible that the phone has turned into such a monstrosity?  :'(


This is what I do too!   I tell them several times to remove my name from their call list or I will turn them in.
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: ejholt on January 05, 2017, 05:39:43 am
If I don't know the number I do not answer it. Problem solved.  :)
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: mgint on January 05, 2017, 07:25:36 am
hang up or dont answer
Title: Re: How Do You Handle Unsolicited Sales Calls?
Post by: thoughtparticles on January 05, 2017, 08:56:20 am
I usually ignore them, but sometimes, I like to have fun with these spam callers. A few weeks back, I actually had someone from "Windows Security" about by windows computer (haven't owned a Windows machine in 2-3 years) cursing at me and making weird noises by the end of the call (when they hung up on me) just by chattering nonsense in a slightly high-pitched southern voice. His parting words were "What the h e double hockey sticks?!"... after making some sort of long 'blah-lah-lah" noise. I nearly died laughing when he hung up.