Do Not Call List

[WheresFanny]

Still speaking from the other end of the line, I can also tell you how to stop getting unwanted political calls:

1. Do not list your telephone number when you register to vote. You gotta have an address. A phone number, not.
2. If you listed your phone number when you registered, change your registration (after Nov. 4) so that there is no phone number on the voting rolls. These days, such lists are updated regularly. Your phone number will probably be gone by mid-term elections in two years.
3. Even if you didn't list your phone number when you registered, it can still be had by enterprising list updaters from the phone book and other public sources. If you don't want political phone calls, go to Plan B:

B1. Make the political caller give you her/his full name.
B2. Make a note of it.
B3. Find out what candidate/issue s/he is calling on behalf of.
B4. Make a note of it.
B5. Explain to the caller that you do not wish to receive any political calls and ask to be removed from their call list.
B6. Terminate the call.
B7. If you get another call from that same candidate/issue, get her/his full name and make a note of it.
B8. Ask for the name and number of that person's supervisor. S/he will usually not want to tell you this info, or will claim s/he doesn't have one. That is very likely true. See B5 and B6.
B9. If you got a name, call that person. If you didn't get a name, google up the campaign's contact info.
B10. Call the campaign. Ask to speak with the director of operations, campaign manager, whatever. Get someone who sounds like a supervisor. Tell that person you have received unwanted call(s) from ____________ (and __________) and ask to be taken off their call list.
B11. Repeat B10 until you are assured by every supervisor of every campaign that you are off their call lists.

I have successfully removed three people from local call lists. The alternative was to listen to them lecture me about their right to not be bothered by my political colleagues. I was happy to do this, especially since I think it cemented their votes in my candidate's favor. Be assured that you do not have to be a party chair to make this happen. Persistence will get you off the lists.

Good luck!

That seems like an awful lot of bother to go through in order to not be bothered. It's easier to just hang up on them, even though that doesn't actually solve anything.

[Snaxx]

The political calls I get are from local campaigns like State Senate, sometimes leaving recordings on my voice mail, but my caller ID shows out-of-town area codes.

[kayrharris]

Somehow I ended up listening to someone wanting money
for Obama. When I mentioned I don't give money to any political candidates
I haven't met in person, (just something I think is important) she hung up on ME!!

[SportsFan68]

That seems like an awful lot of bother to go through in order to not be bothered. It's easier to just hang up on them, even though that doesn't actually solve anything.

Yep. Much easier to hang up for now and change your registration after the election.

[Bob Juch]

I keep getting called by various police "charities". Sometimes on my cell phone. I'm sure these things have about 95% overhead. Each time I say, "Mail me the details. I never will give my credit card to anyone who calls me on the phone." Of course I never get anything in the mail.

[SportsFan68]

I keep getting called by various police "charities". Sometimes on my cell phone. I'm sure these things have about 95% overhead. Each time I say, "Mail me the details. I never will give my credit card to anyone who calls me on the phone." Of course I never get anything in the mail.

The local paper did a little investigative journalism on this issue. Overhead is 85% -- that means 85% goes to the fundraisers, 15% goes to the Fraternal Order of Police, or Deputy Auxiliary Fund, or whatever.

Asking for something in the mail is a very good approach. Also, attend only local events. There's a blue/brown (municipal officers vs. sheriff's deputies) football, basketball, or softball game every couple years. The police chief did the best he could to kibosh these games without actually acknowledging their existence. If it were determined to be an actual police-sponsored event, any injuries would go on the police department's workers' comp tab.

[gotribego26]

Just because something is required by the courts doesn't mean that it's not unfortunate.

Rec!!!!!