How can we discourage telemarketing without being rude?

Caller ID-

I never answer the phone unless I know the number.

One of the best inventions EVER!

You can't. And there's no point in trying to be nice to a telemarketer who's job is to be rude his/herself when trying to get you to buy crap. The hard sell does not include being nice about calling you and talking talking talking you into a buy. Just say "NO!!!", "and don't ever call back here again, Witch!" It's the only way to stop those terrorists.

as soon as I realize a call is a telemarketer I ask to be removed from their calling list and hang up. However, I am not above being very rude if the same company calls again or if it is a weekend and they either call very early or late, then I let them have it.

I was still geting calls even after registering with the Do Not Call Registry. I would ask them to remove me immediately; I wasn't rude, but I was firm.

Unfortunately, there are still companies out there that defy; however, our calls have diminished greatly.

You can choose to never answer the phone, but I can't stand to hear it ring all of the time so if you want to rid the problem, you have to answer, and request this. Usually, they will abide by your request. It's a process though, but it's something you have control over it.

call the National Do Not Call registry and sign up your phone number. That way you won't be on telemarketers' lists. If every person did this-bye bye telemarketers!!!

Well you can be nice and just say something like the following:

"Sorry i am not interested in purchasing what you are trying to sell and also sorry i am pretty sure i don't want tto know about it either."

Or like lie without being rude a lil white lie like

"sorry got no money on me"

OR "I have to go somewhere and please don't call back or just get straight to the ponit and explain in your point of view or sumthin like that

Ask them to hold on for a second. Put the phone down and walk away. They'll eventually hang up. I've asked for a call back number. Most will say they can't receive any calls back, so ask for their home number. They'll refuse, and you can say, "You don't like being disturbed at home?" Most times they get the hint.

Once you have registered with the Do not call list, just ask them to please take you off the list.Then ask them to give you their name,company name,and phone number so you can report that you continue to receive calls that are unwanted and needed.It will work and report them.The national Do not call number is 1-888-382-1222, so get registered, using the phone that you want registered when calling.Also you need to put your cell on there too.....

Ask them to take your name off the calling list....or one of my personal favorites sing into the phone... I promise they'll never call back. (though I don't think that's exactly nice but it works lol) or like the last person said...caller ID.

I first ask who it is, (everyone wants to know your name, don't they know who they are calling??? basic manners), then before they get into their speil, "no thank you. Click.

You are not rude. Rude is calling someone to sell something at the home.