When used correctly-proper selection of prospects or respondents and careful choosing of the time to call-selling and surveying by phone provide useful services for companies and their customers. In addition, these services give employment to people who can not work at other jobs, such as some disabled persons.

People usually get annoyed when firms sponsoring the calls do not use selectivity in choosing names or times.

In regard to these calls, the telephone company is in a difficult position. They are required to provide telephone service for any legitimate use. However, they do not condone thoughtless and indiscriminate sales or survey calls to their customers. Here are some suggestions as to how to handle such calls.

1. Remember that a telephone call is just as personal as a face-to-face conversation. Do not feel obligated to answer questions just because the questioner sounds "official." Do not answer questions on the phone you would not answer if a stranger asked them on the street.

2. Always find out who is calling; ask for the name of the person and the company he or she represents.

3. If the caller is a sales person and you are not interested, say so. One response is to ask the caller to send you all the information in a letter so you can consider it at your leisure.

4. If you don’t recognize the name of the company conducting a survey, offer to call back or ask the caller to call you again after you’ve had time to check the firm with the Better Business Bureau.

5. Remember that it is your phone service and your time. If you are not interested, say so. If the caller is rude enough to not let you go graciously, hang up.