Original Telezapper - $9.97 at Radioshack YMMV

[Allaamu]

This is the older design that basically does the same function that the newer model does. I hate getting Mortgage Rate Calls, subscription to newspaper calls, credit card offer calls, and other time wasting telemarketing calls. For $9.97, its worth a shot.
Anyone use one of these? Good/bad points?

 

[Muddauber]

I have one and it seems to help. I won't stop all telemarketing calls but it seems to stop most of them, at least the ones that are dialed by computers. It creates a tone that tells computers the line is no longer in service, and supposedly this will cause your telephone number to be deleted from telemarketing phone lists.

Your friends and family will puzzled by the tone they hear whenever you answer the phone. They might think your phone has been tapped by the Dept of Homeland Security.

Remember to tell any telemarketers who get through to remove your name from their list, which they are compelled to do by law if you so request.

 

[yasth]

No be sure to tell them to to put you on thier do not call lists. Removing yourself from thier lists doesn't prevent them from calling you again if they get the name again. This will shortly be moot though because of the whole do not call registry thing though.

Also many telemarketers have new software doing the dialing and need all three tones. You can try the download the tones to an answering machine trick more info here

 

[anglo]

Actually, the federal law has not gone into effect yet!

I recently asked about getting a company to stop calling me and the Attorney General's office told me it isn't in effect yet (October I think).

 

[huesmann]

October is correct.

 

[huesmann]

October is correct.

 

[aperry]

Is it October?

 

[Kwad Guy]

The TeleZapper isn't good enough, because it only stops automated dialers in the best case, and doesn't even work for all of those in the worst case.

You should get a Screen Machine. It has the TeleZapper tone functionality, but it also THEN plays a message telling the caller that if they are a soliciter to hang up and take you off their list. By law if you say that, they have to comply. THEN it tells the caller to dial "5" to connect. If the caller dials 5, your phone rings.

I have had one of these hooked up to our phone for about 4 months. In that time, we have not received a single (NOT ONE) soliciter phone call. Before we installed it, we were getting around three a day (while we were home).

Kwad