h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My home phone is a private number - I do not wish to receive unsolicited calls from people other than those who have a reason to reach me (family, friends or from businesses I have entered into contract with who need to contact me).

Being called at odd times at home is an invasion of my family's privacy. This is like someone ringing the doorbell and barging into your house and refusing to leave. Even those folks who promote their religious feelings door to door don't do that and are fun to have a theological discussion with besides.

I am quite willing to fill in a survey form if it is mailed to me (with a return envelope). I can read it and will respond by writing if I wish to. If I don't then I won't. If someone calls me they will simply annoy me - insisting on answers there and then will not help at all as it will quickly get me very angry while the food burns and my 2 year old daughter gets into trouble and someone significant rings the doorbell.

I have been sent a number of surveys and have filled them in when I have the time and when I think my feedback is important. If I think it is junk - then it gets "recycled".

My feedback to telemarketing companies and telesurvey headquarters will be a very strong suggestion copied to my local consumer protection to cease if they are insistent.

This is not much better than "telemarketing" even if it is not selling a product directly it is using my time for someone else to selll marketing information.

I and my family have been harrassed by a major phone company amongst others - They even asked after a year of this behaviour why I have not switched to their service I told them it is because they call and keep asking me these types of questions - I will never use them.

This is unnacceptable behaviour and should be stopped.

Like Jerry Seinfeld said - When called ask the caller for their home phone number and a time to call when it is inconvenient for them so you can return the call.

There is a special place in hell for people who harrass the public like this - it is just above the place where "Ambulance Chaser" "lawyers" and their clients and con artists who pray on the elderly spend eternity.

Should you not want to receive calls from survey firms, that is perfectly fine. Say "take me off the list." If they don't do so, sue the firm. Believe it or not, there are some people who don't mind filling out surveys, otherwise they would not be done. If you really hate doing them so much, simply ask them to take you off the list.

The most effective method would probably be a "caller ID block," which is something that does not accept any calls from "Unavailable" callers.

I do ask and it usually works - These days I find most survey companies and telemarketers are sensitive enough to politely say goodbye or offer to send something (which I would probably welcome). You get the odd few...

I understand the callers are doing a tough job, whether you agree with it or not and they should equally not receive verbal abuse unless they ask for it.

"Do not call" lists are now being implemented in many places in the US and Canada so that you can ask never to be called like this or else the calling company gets into trouble.