No bueno.

I had a similar problem when I got my new cell number - "Michael" was obviously a drug dealer of sorts and I would start getting calls on Fridays, which lasted through the weekend. Highly annoying, especially when the phone is ringing at midnight.

I think you handled it the correct way - there's a time to be polite, but also a time to be blunt with a raised voice.

Hopefully Jeeves won't call again... Good luck!

If the calls have risen to the nuissance level, AT&T will change your number for free. A caveat in this process though: ask for a list of potential numbers first. Then go online to reverse number lookups, Google, etc and look up those numbers. If any of them have a recent listing associated with them, cross them off the list. I've found locally that the newer prefixes like 834, 835, etc tend to be more troublesome than the old prefixes like 323, 396, etc. I went through this proces about a year ago because I had a number like yours with lots of bill collectors calling it and not believing I was not the person they were looking for. My new number has no bill collectors, only friends, family and the occasional telemarketer.

They've definitely reached the nuisance level but I'm not willing to be railroaded into a new number.  The laws governing this type of thing need to be tightened up.

I got the one call at 8, another a couple of hours later from a guy who wanted to know if I was the lady of the house and when I said yes and asked what he was selling he told me nothing, he was offering me something.  I just hung up.  Then about 2 pm the phone rang again.  Against my better judgment I got up and answered it.  Sure enough it was one of the silent ones which I've been told are just computer calls to make sure it's a working number and what time is a good time to call. 

That's it!.  I'm not answering my phone again today.  Nope, not gonna.  In fact, I'm about to go turn the fax machine back on and let IT pick up the call.  Grandson suggested that a long time ago and it's great. since it screeches in their ear and tells them it's a wrong number.    Trouble is, one day I got a faxed invoice from a truck rental company.  LOL.

Ya just can't win.

 "...he was offering me something.  I just hung up. "

Nancy, before hangin up, say PLEASE REMOVE ME FROM YOUR LIST....make sure they acknowledge that, then hang up.  Otherwise, they'll just keep rotating and you'll keep getting called back. 

Telemarketers are trained by the devil to drive the rest of us nuts.   We've had calls as late as 8:45 pm.

I'm almost positve that this was the same guy who called a while back offering a trip to somewhere for listening to a spiel and I told them then to take my name off the list.  I could be wrong, it could be a different comapny but it really is an invasion of our privacy.  My number is unlisted and only given to family and if I wanted all kinds of calls I'd post it on the mens room walls to call for a good time.

I realize it's automated and a computer just dials random numbers but it is soooo frustrating.

Thanks woof, I appreciate it.

Don't even use please. Just state "do not call me again", firmly and surely. Repeat if necessary (be angry if necessary). Most calling systems have a hot key that the agent can press to register a DNC request, so give them just 5-10 seconds to press that key then hang up. Optionally, keep a log of what companies are calling and when. If they persist on calling you after you have said "do not call me again", you can file a claim against them (although that's a hassle in and of itself). Too bad it doesn't work on political calls. Politicians of course left themselves exempt from these rules.