1 May I suggest two things that have helped me? 1.) Get an unlisted number. It only cost an extra couple of bucks a month & its well worth it. And/or 2.) Register yourself at the National Do Not Call Center. (Do a web search).

2 I agree with Tim. We don't have an unlisted number, but as soon as we got our home phone I put all three of our numbers (home & both cell phones) on the National Do Not Call Registry. I think it takes about 60 days for it to kick in, but life is so much more peaceful now.

3 Ditto to all who suggest the Do Not Call list. It is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

4 Pre-recorded phone calls are almost as anoying as the damn SMS messages from Orange telling me i am now in their service area (live near France in germany). Its sorta funny sometimes, going from the front room, to the WC will get your atleast 2 SMS some times more one from Orange, then another from T-Movile. ARGG all of it should be banned.

5 Yep - the do not call registry is wonderful. Then get caller id and don't answer any from "unknown" or "blocked call" etc. On my phone I have caller id - don't answer if I don't know who it is, but have the answering machine loud enough to hear if it's a call I would want to take. I haven't talked to a telemarketer in years. BTW - even with the do not call registry - political calls and "charity calls" are still allowed, as are calls from companies you do business with - it doesn't kill everything but it gets most of them.