How to stop charity fundraising phone calls?

[Silent1CB]

Me, I like to ask many questions. How much of each dollar goes to the charity? Of that amount, how much goes to salaries and benefits? What color ink does the mailer come in? The longer I keep that person on the phone, the less money they can earn. I don't get calls back.

 

[MIGrandma]

I don't think calls like that should be exempt from the "do not call" list. If someone signs up for the "do not call" list, obviously they do not want to receive any telemarketing/charity/political calls. It's extremely annoying to be on the list and still get unwanted calls. We have caller ID and even so, when the phone rings with an "unavailable" number and I don't answer it, it is still annoying just hearing the thing ring.

 

[clutter]

For charities, unless it's for a pick-up, I say "I don't donate over the phone, so you may as well remove me from your calling list, as my answer will always be no."

For political calls, if I get a live person, I tell them that I'm keeping track of who's calling and I'm voting for whoever calls less!

 

[bettymae1121]

I find that -

1) having an unpublished number (which isi different than unlisted, btw)
2) Never giving out my home number to anyone unless absolutely nessesary
3) Having number on the Do Not Call list

- cut my telemarketing calls down by 99%. The few I do get are from businesses that I have an existing account/relationship with, and since I have AT&T digital service, after one call I can block their number so their calls don't ring through anymore.

I donate to several charities, but only by check or credit card and I never provide my telephone number when donating. Even otherwise good charities may sell their donor contact list in order to raise more money. I don't mind getting junk mail (never know, may find out about another worthy charity that way) but I hate hate hate telemarketer calls, regardless of the reason. Only polling calls should be allowed, IMO (and only because polling is important, and it's the only way to get a random sample).

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Me, I like to ask many questions. How much of each dollar goes to the charity? Of that amount, how much goes to salaries and benefits? What color ink does the mailer come in? The longer I keep that person on the phone, the less money they can earn. I don't get calls back.

My DD16 will get on the phone and start talking to them about the flying spaghetti monster. Works every time. No calls back!

 

[Carly_Roach]

I've found the best way to make them stop is to tell them that our house is in foreclosure and we don't know where we'll be living. The only calls we get now are from the FOP fundraisers.

I tell them my DH gave at the office.

Best of luck to you!

 

[cteddiesgirl]

The political ones tick me off more than the charity ones (unless it's for the Indiana State Police--they only get 10% of the donation collected and are very rude. Google it sometime, these guys are the worst--not the ISP but the telemarketing company.). Anymore, whenever I get a political one and ask them to take me off their list. I get a reply that "we are exempt." I simply reply, "I know who I am not voting for now. Thank you." I figure if they can't honor a simple request not to be called, they probably aren't going to listen to the voters on what they want for their district.

We get a lot of calls from the ISP. Because we do have caller ID, we just don't answer anymore.

I would say that about 97% of the calls we get, we never answer because we don't know who they are or they're charities. I hate when we get calls from the DAV. They always call from a different phone number and it always registers as an actual person, not the DAV. I used to answer those.

Now I've gotten to the point where I just won't answer it if I don't know who it is. We have voice mail. If it's important enough, they can leave a message. If they don't, then I figure it must not be very important.

 

[Deb in IA]

Around here the ones that used to call claiming for police officers are a scam. Which is how I started my- send it in writing thing. My BIL a NYPD officer told me that is the way to see if they are legitimate or not.

True story: A few years ago, I got a call from someone claiming to be calling for the Johnson County Sheriff's Office, and was raising funds to buy the sheriffs bulletproof vests. They said, "Did you know that the County Sheriffs have to buy their OWN vests?"

Now, if just so happens that we KNOW the County Sheriff personally (our sons are classmates and good friends).

So, I replied, "Well, we know Sheriff P. personally, since our kids go to school together. I'll have to talk to him about this. Can I get your name and number so that Sheriff P. can call you back and personally thank you for your efforts for his deputies?"

I've never heard someone hang up as quickly as that . . .

Do you have an answer machine? If not get one and set it on the fewest rings needed to start the message. Let your family know you will be screening your calls. When they start to leave a message just pick up the phone and talk.

All of my family members know I do this, so they are not surprised.

We do this too.
But every now and then, a call gets through on Call Waiting, where I can't see who is calling. The message just says "Incoming Call".

When that happens, I tell them immediately that I do not do any telephone fundraising, because my phone is PAID FOR and MAINTAINED by me for MY use, NOT for their fundraising. Had they not called me, I would have considered a donation, but any organinzations that calls and intrudes on my time will automatically be on my "Do Not Donate" list.

I also tell any alumni associations (THEY are the most pushy, in my opinion), that on principle, I don't belong to any alumni associations.

 

[ksjayhawks]

"I'm not interested. Do not call again." Hang up.

I do not waste my time talking to them. Though the idea of bombarding them with questions might appeal to my "evil" side if they call on the wrong day!

 

[usnuzuloose]

I just responded to another thread but I always interupt the caller and ask them did I call you? There are stunned and answer no. Then my reply is well when I need you I will call you. I have always wondered what the look on their face is. Then I say goodbye. I no longer have a land line so I cant do it anymore. I use to have a good one for my answering machine. Jo

 

[Albort]

you should ask if they take Monopoly money... :]

 

[usnuzuloose]

This is an older thread

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Zombie~!

 

[MIGrandma]

I was going to reply to this thread, until I saw that I already had...

way back in June of TWO THOUSAND TEN!!!

 

[Stitchfans]

I just say sorry can't afford to help and quickly hang up. I have enough to pay my bills with a little left over sometimes to treat ourselves out to eat at a fast food place once a month.

 

[Albort]

This is an older thread

i usually dont go past page 1, im not sure why i saw this on page one... :\