[agrace]

Here in NJ (notorious for a LOT of telemarketing calls), we do the same - screen all calls. Anyone we want to talk to knows we do it, and anyone else like drs as you said will leave a message. Our phone hardly rings at all anymore. One thing we do that is different is have it set to a higher number of rings. Telemarketers usually hang up BEFORE our machine comes on because they get sick of listening to the phone ring.

I did answer the phone the other day because I was expecting a call and lo and behold, it was a DNC call fundraising for Lautenberg! :)

[XBob]

"Here in NJ (notorious for a LOT of telemarketing calls), we do the same - screen all calls. "

Texas has a law that all telemarketing calls must be done by a living person, not a machine. It cuts down amazingly on the number of calls. Florida doesn't have such a law, and I got about 10 times as many calls as in Texas.