At my wits end with telemarketers, I finally came up with a plan. [View all]

[Cleita]

Although, I'm on the no-call list, these vermin pay no attention to it because it has no teeth and is practically unenforceable. Then I hooked caller ID to my TV set but many of them block their ID and since some of my friends do the same, I found myself answering the phone and getting one of them instead on the line. I stopped answering the phone hoping my friends would leave messages but some don't. One company is so persistent that it calls me several times a week several times a day even on Sunday.

So I finally changed the message on my answering machine. I say that due to harassment from telemarketers, I no longer answer the telephone. If anyone has legitimate business or needs to talk to me they need to leave me a message and I will get back to them as soon as possible.

So far no messages from the telemarketers. Maybe this will make them stop. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I can't disconnect my land line because as an old woman, I may need it for an emergency as my cell phone is often unreliable. If anyone else has figured out a way to deal with these pests, please post. I'm also wondering if you can sue them for harassment.