How to torment telemarketers

[Swede Atlanta]

279. Get caller ID

I have my VOIP phone settings to not even let anonymous calls come through so the phone never rings.

For the rest if I don't recognize the phone number or the name I don't answer. Yes it is annoying to have 2-3 calls come in some evenings right at dinner time but I realize the person on the other end of the phone is doing this to provide for themselves or their families. While I am on the DNC list I still get calls and on the few occasions I tell them that they usually give me the line that I must have opted in through some purchase, etc. They cannot, of course, identify who that someone or business was.

If I realize I have gotten repeated calls from the same number I will call the number back. Generally they have an option to remove your number from their list. If they don't then their number is saved into my phone's blocked list or will go to the settings on my VOIP and put it there. It is better to get it on the VOIP service because then the phone never rings. If you just do it in your phone it usually rings once and then shows "blocked caller".

While some of the scenarios in the OP may sound funny they are very childish. None of this has any appreciable financial impact on the companies behind the calls because they are usually paying someone in a foreign country pennies to make the calls.

If I could figure out a way to financially harm the companies behind the calls I would do it. But I can't so I navigate this as well as I can without showing disrespect to another human being.