You gotta love (sarcasm) these cold call research firms and whatever it is they are peddling. As of the last few weeks I have been receiving a lot of cold calls on our landline (GRRRR!), cellphone (double GRRRR!), and even work, indicating they are a research firm. I don't exactly know what they are peddling as I never let them get that far, but they usually interject that they are not selling anything before I disconnect. I just don't trust them. And if they really want my opinion for research, then I say pay me.
 
The call yesterday was classic...
 
Cold Caller: Hello. I am from XYZ Research and we would like to ask you a few questions.....
Me: <interrupting> No thanks. Please take my number off of your calling list.
Cold Caller: But what would be a good time to call you sir?
Me: <huh?>  Never. Remove me from your list.
Cold Caller: We only want your opinion. It doesn't cost you anything.
Me: <Click>

Cold Caller: We only want your opinion. It doesn't cost you anything.
Me: Ok, here's my opinion: GO AWAY! 

90% of the cold calls I receive end very quickly when I interrupt their spiel with 'it's a rented property'. It isn't, but they generally put the phone down after I say it.

I hate cold callers too, but they do it for a reason....it works. They expect rejection but they know SOME will bite even after initially rejecting.

I don't have a land line and very rarely get these calls (if at all), but there is a National_Do_Not_Call_Registry giving you a choice of not receiving these calls.

Mesh
I don't have a land line and very rarely get these calls (if at all), but there is a National_Do_Not_Call_Registry giving you a choice of not receiving these calls.

Unfortunately I don't feel this registry is working as well as it should anymore. I have been registered for years (since it started). I recall when it was first enacted it actually felt like it did work and companies complied with it. Over time though, it is my feeling it is being ignored by many companies. Slowly we have been increasingly receiving more unsolicted calls. They may be small time companies, or just plain sleazeballs, and probably just create a new name if they are ever flagged. But I do acknowledge that it could be much worse without the registry. I feel it still has some merit but probably does not put the fear for compliance that it initially did.

Mesh
I don't have a land line and very rarely get these calls (if at all), but there is a National_Do_Not_Call_Registry giving you a choice of not receiving these calls.

The ones doing surveys think that this registry doesn't apply to them since they're not trying to sell you anything, they simply want to annoy the living crap out of you.  Naturally, I don't see any difference at all. 

My favorite are the ones who call you claiming to be "affiliated" with Google and promising to get your business ranked higher in search results. I get 2 or 3 of these every week and I always have fun asking them repeatedly if they are officially linked with Google. In the end they have to admit that no, they aren't - and I hang up. Hate liars.

Most of the ones I get come from anonymous numbers which I never answer anyway. If I do get caught out, I inform the caller that I do not speak to anyone unless they have an appointment. If they ask for an appointment I say no. That usually does the trick. Either that or I ask them to just hold on a minute, put the phone down leaving the line open and then just go about my business. It's quite funny how long some of them will actually hold on for before they realise that I'm not coming back.

In France there are many tele sales firms trying to sell photoelectric cells that you install on your roof that then generate electricity for the French network..

We have had these cells on our roof for the last 3 years and you would think that the EDF (Electricite de France) would keep their files updated and pass the info on to those trying to sell said installations.

Nope, they don't.

So every week we get one or two tele-marketing people call us. Depending on my current mood i either give them s"""" or explain the situation, or just hang up. My wife is more forgiving, but she's learning fast !!!

It really is getting exasperating.

Cheers,
Jerry