The Do Not Call Register ...
For those of us lucky enough(?) to live in Australia, there is this absolute Godsend called the Do Not Call Register.

It is exactly what it says on the tin. However Telstra (Aussie version of BT), the shower of bastards that they are, occasionally think that this restriction doesn't apply to them. They were recently fined a whole 9 shillings and tuppence for ignoring it.

You can't stop Mumbai Mumblers using a power-dialer however. In that case, I just hand the phone to my 5yo daughter. Takes the silly buggers ages to work it out and keeps my wee one amused for hours. Score.
(Que?, Thu 10 Sep 2009, 5:11, 1 reply)

We've got a similar one in the UK
The Telephone Preference Service

It's irritating though, because although it does reduce the number of calls you get, you still get some. And once you agree to let your number be used for ONE thing (as I did), it's suddenly off the register and all and sundry start phoning you again.

It's a good tip though, if you DO get a cold call just say "This number is on he TPS register and 9 times out of ten they just hang up.
( Joe Scaramanga with a G-double-O-D vibration, Thu 10 Sep 2009, 8:09, closed)