Telemarketing & Frustration

I realize this is a personal question, but how do you handle telemarketing calls or calls from people you do not recognize? It is so frustrating to run to pick up, and after 3-4 seconds of silence a telemarketer comes on the line. Honestly!

My position is that just as I never have to accept an invitation to an argument, the same applies to telemarking calls. Having neither the time nor energy to deal with telemarketing calls—and choosing to avoid frustration—this is my typical response.

 1.     First, I only answer the phone when I recognize the phone number or the caller. If someone I do not know wishes to speak with me, they need to leave a message with a call-back number.

 2.     Second, when I inadvertently answer, say “hello,” and there is no response for one or two seconds, I hang up and block that number. This is a common telemarketing strategy: place several calls at once and then wait for one of them to answer. That results in the short delay before someone begins their ‘pitch’.

Set boundaries that work for you.