It's like clockwork. You sit down to dinner and
phone rings. You answer it. The caller is trying to sell you something or tell you that you've won a fabulous prize.Here we go again. You just got a telemarketing call. So do you want to know how to handle these guys? Well, keep reading.
The FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule helps protect you from abusive and deceptive telephone sales practices. The Rule restricts calling times to
hours between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. (your local time) and puts other limits on telemarketers, too. For example:
*Telemarketers must tell you it's a sales call,
name of
seller, and what they're selling before they make their pitch. If they're pitching a prize promotion, they must tell you that no purchase or payment is necessary to enter or win. *It's illegal for telemarketers to lie about their goods or services; earnings potential, profitability, risk, or liquidity of an investment; or
nature of a prize in a prize-promotion scheme. *Before you pay, telemarketers must tell you
total cost of
goods they're selling, any restrictions on getting or using them, and if a sale is final or non-refundable. In a prize promotion, they must tell you
odds of winning, that no purchase or payment is necessary to win, and any restrictions or conditions of receiving
prize. *It's illegal for a telemarketer to withdraw money from your checking account without your express, verifiable authorization. *Telemarketers cannot lie to get you to pay, no matter what method of payment you use. *You do not have to pay for credit repair, recovery room, or advance-fee loan or credit services until these services have been delivered. *It's illegal for a telemarketer to call you if you have asked not to be called.
Ok, now that we know what they can and can't do while on
phone with us, let's get them off
phone altogether. Warning--some of
following suggestions are liable to make you laugh. I have personally used each of these, and it is so much fun!
1. Depending on
gender of
person calling you, start hitting on them. That's right--make a pass at them. For example, I am a male. If
person calling me is a female, I will flirt with her until there is no tomorrow. I have done this twice, and
person hung around for about 30 seconds before she called for a supervisor. That's my signal to hang-up.