the other end of the line and they're just trying to earn some money. It may not be the best job in the world but think about this if cold-calling didn't work then companies wouldn't spend millions of pounds every year doing it. So may be the clever people are the ones that actually listen and not the people thinking up inefficient (and admittedly funny) ways of dealing with them. If you do not want to be cold-called don't give your telephone number, if you do receive a call you do not want ask the company calling you to provide you with the information as to where they got your details. It will probably be data collection company, then contact them and ask them to remove your details. It is a bit complicated but consider this in almost all of the cases I have dealt with the person gave their telephone number out and gave person to be contacted. To finish -- have some respect and manners and life will be a bit easier for you. Roy August 8, 2012 at 11:26 I understand all you say about you doing a job etc., but asking to be taken off a list doesn't work. Being polite only encourages you. I tried blocking calls with withheld numbers but missed essential hospital appointments. Pleae put yourself in our place. Retired people like me tend to doze off in a chair in the afternoon, only to be awakened by someone telling us we've won