---

Do I know you?

The caller opened with: "Hello, Mr Nat-al-zee-er, how are you doing?"
I replied: "Do I know you?"
The telemarketer on the other end stammered, "Well, uh, no... I'm Danny calling for the police activites council, and I'm offering you a chance to..."
"Oh, I see" I interrupted.
"What?" Danny replied.
"Right. No thank you. Goodbye."


This basic approach was recommended by a colleague of mine, and I really liked the early results. It is honest, direct, and gets them off the phone fast without being excessively harsh. At the same time, it highlights the intrusiveness of the "how are you doing?" implied-buddy approach. Not a universal solution, but I like it.