What I have found to be extremely effective is to interrupt their chatter and ask "Are you selling something?"
Almost invariably, there is a pause and an affirmative answer. I then say, it is my policy never to buy anything over the phone and hang up.
I have never had a telemarketer lie to me that he was not selling something. If they did, I would probably just tell them it is my policy to never buy anything from liars and cheats.
Occasionally a telemarketer will be evasive and not answer the question. That is a tip off to me that s/he is selling something and I take the evasiveness as an affirmation that they are in fact selling something and then go into my speel about my policy to never buy anything over the phone and hang up.
I do have some difficulty when charitable organizations call. I have my favourites to support but can't support them all and some of them are a bit off the wall.
How do you guys handle charitable request?
