Avoiding Telemarketers

stop junk mail

If one were to take a poll of the American populace in order to find out what their greatest annoyances are, telemarketers would likely rank high on the list, possibly taking the top spot. Telemarketing has become such an issue that the federal government has taken on the task of eliminating these unwanted sales calls from our home with the National Do Not Call Registry. Even with the help of the FTC, it seems almost impossible to avoid marketing completely, though with a few steps it can be possible to lessen the impact these calls make on a relaxing evening at home.
- Include your phone number(s) in the National Do Not Call Registry. Both landlines and mobile phones are eligible, and telemarketing companies must comply with the terms of Do Not Call. Please note, there are some entities that are not prevented from calling through the Do Not Call list, such as charitable organizations, credit collectors, and those companies with whom you already do business, such as insurance agencies and financial institutions.
- Include your phone number(s) on your state no call list. These are managed out of the State Attorney General’s office, and most states have simple web forms or phone numbers that make the sign up process easy.
- When telemarketers call, inform them that your number is on the No Call Registry and ask them to remove your name and number from their listing. If they refuse to do so, or if they hang up, report the number to the FTC. Unfortunately, these days many telemarketing calls are ‘robocalls’ that are automatically generated using a non-human. All calls of this nature should be reported to the FTC.
Telemarketing does not have to be a necessary evil in our lives. By taking the above steps, you can prevent most future telemarketing calls from invading your home once and for all.