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Empath said:
It does work to a certain extent. It gives the beginning tones of what the phone uses to indicate a disconnected line. The calling computer interprets the tone to mean the line is disconnected and drops the call. It does require a little adjustment in delay if you're using an answering machine. If you speak too quickly after the tone, or if the answering machine starts its recorded message to quickly, it's not as effective.
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it's becoming the case, apparently, that the magic machines that the telemarketeers are using have been 'taugh' to ignore those tones now; really, to apply "better logic" to defeat your intent. there's a better way i think, see a bit further down (and cheaper too!).
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James S said:
I have a friend who has one and he swears by it. But it's quite annoying to people calling him up like me who get blasted by the tones before he starts speaking.
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yup, they completely, totally annoy the crap out of me.
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I get no sales calls at all anymore, and I don't have one of these. I simply took the time to tell each and every one of the folks that called to "Add me to your do not call list" you can't say take me off your list or anything else, you have to use those exact words. They are required by law to put you on their do not call list and they can't call you again. It works, they don't. I work at home most days and so got a lot of calls, but a week or so of making it a point to say this to everyone that called and now I get none.
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yeah, that GREATLY reduced the calls for me, except the totally automated ones (which are supposedly illegal), and have no options for callback and/or removal of any kind.
it also helps to have the junkbuster script on hand, and read them the riot act, waste their time, and evaluate if they really truly have a do not call list, that it's permanent, and doesn't expire in 6 months or a year.
also thanx to state and now national level do not call lists, that should help bunches.
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You'll still get calls from political parties and from banks and such companies where you have accounts. You can't stop them, once they have a business relationship with you they are allowed to call you, and your political party is also exempt from this rule. But everyone else has to obey.
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also, don't forget charities and non-profits. they have little loopholes. like your local fire and police dept asking for money. i believe you CAN stop sa company you have a relationship with by explicity getting on their list. problem is, esp with banks, they sell that stuff, and the affiliates are allowed as well. you have to call them all. or use the thing i'll mention below - works like a charm so far. also: surveys are still allowed i believe.
"your political party is also exempt" ... well, MY political party would
never fake caller id, nor call 5 times a day, with no way to get them to
stop, cease and desist. i had three different phone company "operatives" trying to hunt down the jokers being paid to advertise a politician a while
ago, and they came to the conclusion that "these were bad times".
target.com -> search "screen machine"
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/601-2116243-7081733?asin=B00006HCIL
http://www.spectrumresearchinc.com/products.htm -> screen-machine
http://www.spectrumresearchinc.com/products_sm.htm
my local target sold those recently for $14 (now sold out there; was $50-60),
i'm expecting other targets to be clearing them out. they seem to be the
perfect gadget to make telemarketers GO away. thank goodness.
the basic gist is that you get to say your piece, without having your phone
ring, and only those people who are authorized ring through. in theory,
if someone unauthorized rings through, they've agreed to a binding contract
and you can own their asses. if you can find them.