The Simple Life

Work/Life Tools

Family and Friends

Telemarketing Torment

Imagine this scenario: You've just sat down to dinner after a long day at work. The phone rings. You answer it and are greeted by a cheery telemarketer. Your blood pressure rises as you mutter, "Not interested," and slam down the receiver.

You probably don't have to imagine this situation because you've undoubtedly experienced it. Telemarketing is one of today's most common--and unpopular--forms of mass marketing. As a telemarketing alum (yes, I admit to it), I feel empathy toward the low-paid worker calling me. Nevertheless, I usually say, "Please take me off your list" instead of listening to the spiel. Now there's another way to get off the calling lists.

By joining the Direct Marketing Association-sponsored Telephone Preference Service you can reduce the number of telemarketing calls to a home address. Registering with this free service means you are publishing your preference not to be called at home. The companies that use this preference list will honor this request. However, this does not ensure that all your telemarketing calls will cease, just the ones from companies (usually national) that use the service.

For a printable form, go to: http://www.the-dma.org/consumers/tps-sht.html
This form may not be submitted online, so print it out, complete it and mail to:

TELEPHONE PREFERENCE SERVICE
DIRECT MARKETING ASSOCIATION
P. O. BOX 9014
FARMINGDALE, NY 11735-9014

Then cross your fingers and look forward to some quiet time!