If you are calling for Mrs. Benjamin, please hang up....

Some recent and extremely disruptive calls from TD Canada Trust lately have prompted me to wonder... how do telemarketers get on at cocktail parties?

Other guest: "Nice to meet you, Sid. What is it you do for work?"
Telemarketer: "Oh, I phone people when they're eating, playing with their kids, or trying to take a dump, in order to harangue them to buy unnecessary products and services they never thought they'd need..."
Other guest: (sidesteps rapidly to go find a slaughterhouse worker to chat with...)

I actually repeated the sentence: "I am not interested in any additional credit cards" 4 times for the TD Visa slob who called, and I think I snapped at that point - I've been quite rude (even for me!) to the next couple. HOPEFULLY after the last one, when I finally remembered to explicitly request that they remove me from their call lists, they'll stop. It's that much more annoying that they keep calling as I am completely removing my business from TD after their screwed-up handling of my investments over the last few years.

Also sick of telemarketers? Check out the-cma.org, under Consumer information, and register for the Do Not Contact service. It's no guarantee, but marketers who are at least responsible enough to cross-check their DB with the CMA Do Not Contact list should be removing your name if you're registered. It's better than nothing. Also remember to ask all parties from whom you request information - including magazine subscriptions and charities - to NOT share your address. Most of those are concerned enough with your business that they will respect your request.

Failing that, screen calls. Anyone who calls our house for Mr. Botari or Mrs. Benjamin deserves a hangup, as they obviously don't know who they're calling.