How do you deal with dozens of Telemarketing calls each week, as they repeat and continue no matter what you say or do? Thank you, Robert.

I hang up or don't answer. The ones that are truly annoying are the scam calls saying my Win PC has a virus. Now I just tell them I don't have a computer.

They take advantage of the fact that we were taught to be polite. But have you noticed that they are quick to hang up on us when it suits them?

If I want to play, I can, but I often simply hang up. I do NOT blow a police whistle into the phone -- that could hurt the caller, and they could ID me from the phone number.

Cell? Landline? Office number? Home?

I accidentally booked a hotel with my "real" cell number, and not my Google Voice number. I was spammed with "you've won a vacation" and "in response to your inquiry re: healthcare" and "please call now regarding your credit card account" calls for months afterwards.

So, for me-- my main cell number is from an area code where I haven't lived in almost 15 years. So when they spoof a call to make it look like a local call, it's easy to tell... because strangers aren't calling me from my old area code.

My Google Voice number is a nearby city with a local area code, and it goes to my personal cellphone. I use it for the biz, so I only have to carry one device.

I can't tell the difference between calls dialing my personal cell number vs calls dialing my Google Voice number, but if it were me, I'd probably sign up for a Google Voice number from another area code, and program it to ring on my personal cellphone. Then, I'd use that Google Voice number for things like "delivery confirmation", or for "sign up to receive text notifications", or for booking hotels, or other situations where I'm not sure they're not going to sell my phone number. I would continue to use my personal cellphone for whatever use it's put to, but I'd restrict the number of third parties who have it. Google Voice has the benefit of having Voice Transcription, so I can see at a glance what they wanted to talk about if they leave a voicemail, and if it's something important.

I have a policy that takes care of this: "All calls go to voicemail."

I'd love to setup Jolly Roger Telephone Company's automated answerer on my phone. Think it would be hilarious. Take a listen to their actual telemarketer conversations. The telemarketers are actually trying to sell to an automated attendant.

I've had a few really persistent callers calling for local roofing or windows, etc. I've actually started setting up appointments with them. I find that if I have them come to my house and waste their time, they usually take me off the list.

Long ago I was told that the telemarketer cannot speak until you speak first! Once you say 'hello' they have the right to go into their spiel because you opened the conversation. When I pick up the phone--I don't speak. I let them get really frustrated (hello-hello,is someone there?).

WHY do people jump every time the cellphone OR landline or whatever phone rings. OH MY must answer it. Let it go to voice mail then screen the calls from there. IF the call is important they will leave a message OR if its a prospective tenant they will leave a message.

I came across an article this morning that addresses this very issue. In 2017 there were over 18 billion unwanted robocalls.

The latest version is that the robocaller says, "Hello, is Jim there?"

I respond that there's no Jim.