Shelley Bridgeman

WE all have to put up with slights, difficult people, road rage and rudeness as we go about our business outside of the house. But once we’re home, we breathe a figurative sigh of relief and think: “well, at least I’m safe here”. And then the telephone rings…

Suddenly, just when your defences are down, you’re forced to deal with someone else who wants a piece of you. And it’s infuriating.

My key strategy lies mainly in avoidance. I take our landline off the hook whenever I’m working, cooking dinner, eating dinner or watching a favourite television show.

Strategies used by others include rudeness, boring them with your complaints, asking them for their number so you can return the call and leaving them hanging on the line awaiting your return.

I’ve found the most effective way in which to repel telemarketers who do get through is to deny, deny, deny. They ask: “Can I speak to the home owner?” I reply: “Sorry, there’s no one here.”

A few years ago a telemarketer called and said: “Hello, could I speak to your mummy or daddy please?” I replied in my most childlike voice: “Sorry, they’re not home right now.”

When you fail to pass telemarketers’ screening questions they can’t get off the line quick enough.

My denial policy may give me some degree of warped satisfaction but it doesn’t stop the nuisance calls from happening in the first place.

Just as e-mail spam persists because of those who respond positively, unsolicited telemarketing calls are fuelled by the people who answer the phone, engage with the caller, follow the script and – shock! horror! – even sign up for the goods or services being sold.

Regardless of whether these people are motivated by boredom, loneliness, naivety, low self-esteem, politeness or simply have a canny eye for a bargain, they’re the ones who are the true source of the nuisance that is telemarketing.

Perhaps some of the widespread disapproval reserved for telemarketers should be directed toward those consumers who give them hope and keep them rewarded. – New Zealand Herald