Tips for stopping annoying telemarketer calls

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- It happens all too often. You sit for dinner with your family and the phone rings. On the other end of the line -- a telemarketer. So how do you get those pesky calls to stop?

Erika Elson has worked as a telemarketer in Southern California for years and she has a few insider tips to get telemarketers to stop calling.

#1: Answer the phone

"One mistake that people commonly make is that they let telemarketers call them over and over again without picking up the phone," Elson said.

Elson says that's one of the worst things you can do.

"We'll assume that you are just not home we can call you another time," she said.

#2: Don't hang up

Definitely do not hang up the phone as soon as the telemarketer has identified themselves; we'll just assume that you got disconnected and we will call you back," Elson said.

#3: After answering, insist to be put on their Do Not Call list

Early in her career Elson's bosses taught her about the "three no's" rule.

"You don't want to let someone off the phone until they've given you three clear indications they're not interested," Elson said.

#4: don't explain the reason you're not interested

"You just want to clearly state the same thing, you want to repeat that you want to be put on the do not call list," Elson said.

#5: Keep your anger in check

"When you get angry at them they might take it personally and then as a way to retaliate they'll just throw you back into the pool and you'll get called again by a different person," Elson said.

#6: Never give a telemarketer a reason to call you back

"We will keep calling until you tell us not to," Elson said.

#7: Join the national Do Not Call Registry

Just know that even if you are put on the list, political organizations, charities and survey companies can legally still call you.