Does anyone know how to stop telemarketers from calling? I am looking for a way to do this in Canada.?

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WineWayne

This country needs a national do not call list.

Go to the Canadian Direct Marketing Associations "do not contact service" and click on registration instructions.

http://www.the-cma.org/?WCE=C=47|K=224217

It will not stop all calls but it's a start.

I know how you feel. I've actually turned off the ringer on my phone and even turned off the answering machine after getting three or four calls a day. I've told friends the best way to contact me is by email. It's an out of control problem.

Penny ~ Baby #1 due Jan 4 2009 ~

Whenever they call, I ask them to not call anymore. I don't even let them talk. I know it sounds rude, but I think it's ruder to interrupt someone's lives various times a day to sell them something they don't want. If wanted their service, I'd go to them. There have been times that a telemarketer has called and no one on the other line has picked up, so I call them back asking to not be bothered again. It seems to work for me.

Imaka

You have to sign up with the "Do Not Call" registry. I am not sure if the registry is up and running yet in Canada, but it is in process. These links should give you the information you need.

Cariad

The the first thing you can do is look at "how" they are getting your number.

One of the most common ways telemarketing companies get their numbers are from the people themselves. You know those entry forms you put your info on to win stuff? Yup....in many cases those are sold to companies who then sell the info to other ones who call you. Magazines are often guilty of this too. Call your magazines you subscribe to in order to ensure they do not sell your info to others. (sometimes worded like "we sometimes share your information to other areas we feel you may be interested in...." in very tiny print")

You can also ask to be put on the do not call list. Keep in mind, the companies need time to do this. Also, each company calling you may have your name on 2-3 lists they have "bought". It may not be the same telemarketing company calling you, even when it is the same product.

An unlisted number is generally the easiest...and make sure you and your friends do not give it out. (friends try and be helpful when they enter you into those contest...) Any charity you give your number to, also may sell your number. Not all do that, but some do.

Keep in mind too, that some telemarketers you are required by law to talk to. If Stats Canada calls, that is a legal requirement. (even if it is rarely enforced)

Be nice to the people on the line. Telemarketers often have to hear "no" three times before they can let the call go. They are people just like you and me who are trying to feed the kids at home.

One final thing. DO NOT blow a whistle in the ear of the telemarketer to stop them from calling. One of the advice columns once suggested this and an old biddy I called once did this. I can no longer hear well in my right ear as a result.

Edit: Saw this recent link on CBC, you may be interested in it
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/telemarketing/index.html

SteveN

As another person mentioned, the Canadian "do not call" registry is supposed to be designed to prevent unwanted solicitation by telemarketers.

However, be aware that it has a few limitations:

1) It is currently only honoured by members of the Canadian Marketing Association. If the people calling you are not part of the CMA, they will not see the "do not call" list and you must ask them to remove you from their mailing list.

2) The current list is solely a "voluntary" option for telemarketers. To my knowledge, they are not bound by law to follow it.

3) Putting your name on the list may prevent you from being contacted by companies you do want to hear from.

According to the website, a national do not call service is being implemented by Bell Canada and is expected to be ready in the fall of 2008.

Dangermanmi6

this is what I did,
1) got call display so I only answer the calls from people that I know or business that are calling me back.
2) I downloaded the tones for "this phone is not in service" and I have that on my answering machine as the first thing when it picks up. Humans aren't bothered by this but the automation doesn't seem to like it .
3) If you do accidently pick up on a telemarkerter ask to be put on their do not call list OR just say no thanks and hang up on them.

Since I started doing this the number of marketers seems to have dropped off. We still get them but there are fewer than before.

The only way that I know to not get telemarketers phoneing you is to drop the land lines. A colleage of mine did that and went to cellular only and he stopped getting the marketers BUT he forgot to buy the desktop charger so he had to remember to plug the darn thing in all the time.

forever5

Get an unlisted number. Once we got one all of the telemarketing calls stopped.

sheloves_dablues

Ask to be removed from their list. If they try to tell you that you have to call a different number to ask to be removed, tell them firmly that under the law, they must remove your number when you ask them to. The threat of legal action works for me every time.

Bird Flippin' expecting #2

When they do call there's 4 magic words that you have to say to them "Do Not Call List". After that they can't legally call you for 4 years.

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