How do you respond to a pushy telemarketer, after you already told them, you're not interested?

Question

provokeesmokee · Accepted Answer

The most fun and effective tactic I pulled was just wasting their time with a nonsense bit to try to get them to laugh.

They'd ask a question or say their line of the script, I'd ask if there's carrot soup in Cuba. They repeat the question and I respond that it's important there is carrot soup in Cuba. They move to the next line of the script, I reiterate the carrot soup is needed to protect against the Squirrel Uprising. And so on and so on.

Got maybe four lines in and I could hear a group of the call centre folks giggling at my antics. They hung up shortly after, but I never got a call back from them.

I also got a kick out of making a handful of people stuck in a scam centre to feed their families laugh a bit.

And I got to rave about squirrels for a bit, which is always fun.

TheRealPepperPotts · Accepted Answer

I don't typically answer the phone from numbers I don't know. If I happen to end up on the phone with one, it's usually because I am expecting a different call. If I'm bored and have time, I start asking them personal questions, like how they like their job, what they ate for breakfast, and where they would go if they could go anywhere, etc. It freaks them out a little, and they can't get off the phone fast enough, LOL.

If I am not in the mood, I tell to put my number on their do not call list and hang up. If it's the same number and they keep calling, I'll block them. The trouble is that some scammers are now able to route their call through a local number, so you could be blocking a local business or someone's number who is unrelated to the scam or marketing.

RebelinSteel · Accepted Answer

I tend to answer them as..

’Hello Detective Sgt Fuller Greater Manchester Fraud Squad, how did you get this number? I must inform you all calls to this number are automatically investigated by the National Crime Agency and UK Security Services’, you will receive a visit within 28 days’

They tend to hang up then, the last one to call was swearing a lot to himself.

Joshydavid25 · Accepted Answer

Tell me "I know who Miah is" After that they I get a sincere apology, they offer me a well paying commission free job, I decline, they ask me for my Caspapp and hang out, and I "mysteriously" get $1000 sent to it with the prayer hands emoji... Hmph.. Pretty weird.. LOL..

mandyfire98 · Answer

I usually let my phone spam it but if I do accidentally pick up. I just keep saying the word no repeatedly like I don't speak English well.  "Uh no, uh no, I sorry. Uh no. Yeah no, no no."

7Phoenix7 · Answer

I hang up on them

purplepoppy · Answer

Say something like "oooh I really like the colour of your hair, might do mine like that, would you mind turning around so I can see the back."  It really freaks them out.

TommyMountainFigure · Answer

Oh that's easy. I have several ways to wind them up. Here is just one example just yesterday-:

Whilst they are waffling on, I say 'hold on a second' and shout out 'Yes, Yes I know, but the idiot won't get off the phone'.. I then say Oh I'm sorry about that, but my wife is waiting for a very important phone call!

Which isn't a COMPLETE lie.. Seeing as one (or both) of us are usually waiting for calls of some kind!

dustybiker2 · Answer

I've already hung up. Their job is to talk over you to keep you on the line. This weeds out those sensitive people that are easier to fall prey to opening their wallets.

matchrestore · Answer

I usually just hang up at the first sign that they're a telemarketer. It may seem rude, but I know a few people that have worked call center jobs in the past, and they'd rather be hung up on and move onto the next call than spend a bunch of time on a call that isn't going to lead to a sale, especially if the person on the other end of the line gets argumentative and/or rude. No hard feelings just being hung up on.

CrazyGirl2 · Answer

Hang up! Then block the number!
(AT&T has a great feature, (as I'm sure most phone companies do now) but when you get a telemarketer, you simply mar it as "spam, junk" and it will delete the call, and block the number. It's especially helpful in spam texts!

Hope this helps, Laura 🤗 🥰

WhiteSteve · Answer

I’d just bang on them, haha, I’m not going to explain it a second time. I usually don’t wait for their response, I just say “I’m all set, thank you”, and hang up.

thisAppIsGarbage · Answer

Tell them you have to go but they should definitely call you back on your personal number and then tell them your "number" on a very off rythem cadence and then ask them to repeat it too you and no matter what they say tell them they are wrong and do it again until they hang up on you. You will never hear from them again.

FreyaRed · Answer

I ask them friendly if I ever allowed them to bother me with marketing calls and I demand their tax office number. (is obligatory for businesses in my country). I did never get a response back they just end the call immediately.

Booklover_90 · Answer

Thankfully, I don’t have that problem anymore. I have unknown numbers automatically blocked. I’m sure there’s a way you can do that, too. Look around in your settings and see if there’s a way you can silence unknown numbers.

superchan2011 · Answer

If I feel like answering I'll just repeatedly ask what? Over and over again. And say I can't hear you until they get tired of that and hang up. It's funny to fuck with them like that.

slatyb · Answer

I never ever answer calls from unknown numbers. Why do you?

EmmaMary · Answer

@miah04  I quite simply hang up... Easy!

HelpfulWoman · Answer

hang up after a "remove my number from your call list or i will take it higher"

northerngal · Answer

Hang up. I will make one polite attempt only to tell them I am not interested.

ApplePie409 · Answer

I set the phone down and let them talk while I watch TV.

IslaTheWitch · Answer

if this person doesn't react when I say I'm not interested, I just end the connection

Wiredone · Answer

I don't give them time to finish. As soon as I know they are trying to sell me something I tell them I'm not interested and to remove my number and name from their calling list, then I hang up

HighValue · Answer

I don't answer the phone for unfamiliar numbers.

MacDaddyRico · Answer

Hang up and block the number would be the easiest solution, but I hate hanging up on people... So, I make them hang up on me... Don't ask me how---I go X-Rated on them

genericname85 · Answer

i don't. just hang up and block their number. don't waste your hate on this bullshit.

JesterRose · Answer

I start talking about an imaginary “boil I found on my body somewhere”. They hang up pretty quick.

normalice · Answer

I usually just read the Bible to them.

LaurenM1997 · Answer

Put the phone down

Account · Answer

Block the number.

Aubrey97 · Answer

Hang up. They've left you no other option.

Anonymous · Answer

tell them their voice is really turning me on.

DJB72 · Answer

I hang up and block the number

bowenw · Answer

Block the number.

Jennz6 · Answer

Block the number

handsomelad70 · Answer

Hang up the phone.

Likes2drive · Answer

Keep repeating yourself and then you hang up

LiamS95 · Answer

I disconnect the call

Knightwatch27 · Answer

I don't answer those calls at all haha.

CubaPirate · Answer

I just hang up and block the number

MisterWack · Answer

Hang up

Chazmatazz269 · Answer

Hang up.

CrabCakes11 · Answer

Hang up

ChicoFromThe305 · Answer

Ignore them

FunkyMonkee · Answer

Hang up!

dudeinohio · Answer

Hang up

pethouse · Answer

Hang up.

KrakenAttackin · Answer

Hang up.

Asian-male · Answer

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How do you respond to a pushy telemarketer, after you already told them, you're not interested?

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How do you respond to a pushy telemarketer, after you already told them, you're not interested?

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