I am so sorry you have to deal with telemarketers. Even at the best of times they suck. -Shelli

Honestly? I just say, no thanks and hang up before they say one more word. That's if I even answer the phone (have caller ID). At the store, if I get calls asking for Joe, I just say - you need to talk to me now. Most times it's sales calls, or donation calls. The one that really pissed me off was one early on - I actually told the "person" (I think he was an alien, actually - and that would be the one from outer space), that Joe died. He didn't skip a beat, just said, well, Joe would have contributed....I said, I'm not Joe. And I'm not contributing. And STFU. (Well, I didn't actually say the last part, but boy, was I thinking it!) I'm sorry, sweetie. They're just doing their crappy jobs, but think on this: you don't have to respond, or talk, or explain, or do anything you don't want to. Nada. ((Hugs))

One time I got a call from Sears about a warranty on a lawn mower that he had. She said the warranty had expired; I said, "So did he." End of conversation, as I no longer had the lawn mower either.

Like the lawnmower comment BTW...

Tammy (a girlfriend of mine) said that about 6 months or so after her husband Barry passed that she got a call claiming that the collection agency had recently contacted him and he had set up a payment arrangement on an old medical bill.

I am sure their ears were bleeding before she let them off the line.

Hang in there. I just tell them my husband just passed away...usually they say they are sorry and hang up.

I don't think we owe them (or anyone else) any type of an explanation. I don't try to be rude unless they push me, but I am very firm in what I say.

For the telemarketer, I do what Marsha mentioned: 'I'm not interested, and please don't call this number again.' I then hang up before I can hear what they're trying to say as I disconnect.

One thing I try not to do is say that my husband has died. That type of information leaves us vulnerable, because the person on the other end of the phone could be someone canvassing the neighborhood for an easy target. Who knows? Early on, I did that before realizing that I was telling them up front that I was alone and without protection. Just my thoughts. TJ

My wife used to give to charities and after she died I got a call from one and I had told them she had passed away. Their first response was Do you want to make a donation in her memory. I just hung up the phone.

I got a call literally one minute after my husband died on my cell phone from Chase bank. I don't know how they got my cell phone number. I give my number out to very few people so I answered my cell thinking it was perhaps my sister's husband who is in a nursing home (although he is only 60) or some other very close friend.

When I heard it was Chase I told them my husband had JUST died (in ICU) and the woman started screaming at me - guess she thought it was a joke or something. I couldn't believe it.

@ patholife oh gosh thats something I did not think of NOT telling them he died.
Thanks

You do not owe anyone on the line one second of your time unless you initiate the call. Remember you have the "power of the finger" the one that hangs up. I always just say, "I am not interested" and hang up."

We take so much crap and our hearts are broken for a very long time. No need to torture ourselves further by spending what little time we have "not crying" talking to a stranger that hasn't a clue as to what we are going through.

hugs...
Diana

I simply say 'take me off your list' If you tell them that, they can't contact you for a year.

Don't tell them your husband passed. There are some terrible people out there. Also, this could lead them to sell your name to other pesty callers.

It it is a telephone interviewer, just get yourself disqualified. Answer yes to one of the first five questions. Example, have you done an interview in the last 6 months?" Say yes, and they'll say goodbye and the interviewer won't get blamed for not getting the interview.

remember when they call you can say anything you want to them and not get in trouble . i do it all the time.scott

I had my land line cut off after a few days. I have a cell and lots of quiet.

It's your phone; for your conveinence, you pay the bill; and you don't have to answer any calls you don't want to; and even if you do, you don't owe anyone an explanation about anything in your life. Sometimes we just have to draw a hard line in the sand to protect and take care of our self first.

You don't have to deal with them. Mike would get so annoyed that he would put them on hold and never come back to the phone. Another time we got one just as we sat down to dinner. Mike asked the telemarketer for HIS home phone number so he could call HIM when HE was having dinner. I do not have much faith in the do not call list. The telemarketers are still out there and there are so many exceptions to the rule. Good luck!

I screen the calls - and if I don't have my glasses on and accidently answer- I politely say " I'm sorry- I can't give to any more charities- please take me off your list, but thank you for what you are doing- then I hang up. Unfortunately this doesn't stop businesses that you use from calling (cable, etc)- they won't take you off their lists.