Do you have caller ID? If so, do you answer calls from names you do not recognize? That could be your first problem.
If I don’t recognize a caller’s name, or if it says “Unknown Caller” I lift the phone and hit on and off in that order very quickly.
Eliminates a lot of useless calls-—especially from politicians......as well as from people wanting to sell you something, or wanting you to donate to something, etc etc. Also, the caller can’t leave a recorded message.
My family and friends call me on my cell phone.
I have 2 phone lines, one goes to my property gate. I have no way of knowing if it’s someone at my gate or a phone call so I need to answer. Also, as I said before, with kids living in colleges out of town, they will sometimes call from unknown numbers and I’m afraid to miss an emergency call.
Our home phone is transferred to the cell phone...and hubby will answer any call. He does hang up on pols, and sales, charity he is beginning to ask if they are paid solicitors and to take us off the list.
I’d just hang up on all of them.
I just hit the mute button and ignore it, if it's someone I choose not to talk to at the moment but your way may be better. Even before the days of caller ID, I could hear a phone ring in the same room and ignore it, which I did frequently.
I have had some form of mobile phone since '91 or '92 and have never gotten a telemarketer call on one. My very first looked like a desk type phone and I had to plug it into the cigarette lighter to use it. I gave up my land line several years ago and have never regretted it.
I do understand that some people have a need for a land line.