I signed up on that do-not-call list back when it first came out, thinking it would protect me from the bazillion telemarketer calls that I used to get (mainly during dinner!). And it seems to have worked great, for the most part. I still get the occasional call, but they are either from a company with whom I've done business before (legally allowed), or some small local company like home remodeling, or something like that. The very few times I've gotten a classic telemarketer call, I immediately asked them for their contact information, then told them I was going to report them, and they'd be subject to a $10,000 fine! That shut 'em up quick, and I'd never hear from them again.

Well this morning I got a really frustrating call -- it was a computerized voice, calling about mortgage loans or some such thing! I'd have to wait through the whole shpiel to get to a live person to demand to be taken off their list, and I don't have the patience for that. Grrrr! I thought I wouldn't have to deal with this kinda cr*p anymore. The frustrating thing about it for me is that I was working, writing away, and the call broke my concentration, which I find VERY irritating.

LeeAnne - when I was working at home I never answered my home phone during business hours and even sometimes didn't answer my business line so I could focus. Turn the ringer off and let the calls go to Voicemail. The important people knew to call me on my cellphone.

Yeah, ditto on the cell, Kathy.

I'd love to turn off the phone, believe me. But with two kids in school, I've got to remain reachable, both by cell and home phone. I've got caller ID so I usually can tell if it's a call I can ignore, but this one said "restricted," so I wasn't sure who it was and figured I'd better answer it.

If it happens again, I'm going to wait and get to the person, get their information (just pretend I'm actually interested in what they're selling!) and report 'em!

I keep getting one and caller ID said "tollfree number" I do not answer and they do not leave message - J

What a relief I got with that "do not call" thing. Just the ring was annoying back then, as I have caller ID and never answered "unavailable". Hope I don't get bothered, as I am going to jump all over it.

LeeAnn - you might want to check when you signed up for the "do not call" list. I think it's good for five years. Linhttp://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/dncalrt.htm#5Year

Might be time to sign up again. Then it's a 31 day window.

Hope that helps. I can empathize with your frustration. Cheers, Anne

Thanks -- I didn't know about the 5 years! I'll go check it out...

Reposting the link here.

Thanks Robert! Well I'm good through 2008, so they shouldn't have called me. The link you sent also gives me more info about what to do if they call again, so that was helpful. Thanks again!

Not me, I was just fixing Anne's link.

Thanks for fixing it, R. You're the best! My "do not call" five year expiration came in the fall; the phone started ringing again!

PS - don't forget to add your cell phone # to the list.

Cheers, Anne

Oops, I missed that Anne posted the link first. Thanks again! :) And I did recently get another line our our cell plan, so I added that one too.