I did the same thing with the Jehova Witnesses.

Horrible Portuguese accent in English:

"Sorie, me no German, me cleaner, me no undarstend, lady not home!"

Witnesses out!

When it happened in the past, I just put the phone down without hanging up. I haven't been disturbed by such calls for ages now.

With Jahovahs, engaging phone sex does the trick. At the door, they had entered the building somehow once, I just started undressing. Ferociously efficient, they were off before I even came to the lower part.

I'm in the Suisse-Romande, so get spam phone calls from companies using North-African call centres. You can usually identify them by their accent. Speaking to them in Swiss-German usually dampens their enthusiasm - you don't even have to speak it terribly well, as they won't understand it at all.
I suppose you could do something similar in the Swiss German side - just speak nonsense down the phone, in some made-up language

We've had the occasional call from well known energy supplier and mobile phone provider since we moved here.

Found that just saying that we're not UK resident and not interested usually makes them lose interest in the conversation.

The other day my 4 year old answered the phone to a telemarketer speaking perfect Züridytsch. The person at the other end evidently asked to speak to Papi - so he handed the phone to me and I started insisting they speak English. The person asked if there is someone in the house who speaks German - to which I replied, "My 4 year old can. Shall I get him?" They hung up after that.

Cheers,
Nick.

Tell the caller you are recording the message which you will submit to the police - usually very effective, but less effective than hanging-up immediately!

Or that you are recording the call for "training purposes".

Cheers,
Nick

Log their number & call times and complain to Swisscom. There is a law that persistent nuisances can have the phone line taken away.

That's one way to deal with it!

I'm retired and it's true that when I received calls and so replied they gave up rather quickly. Up to now, I thought it was my accent or perhaps bad breath, so that's reassuring.

By the way, I understand that such telephone marketing by health assurance companies was now illegal? Or is it it only in Vaud? Certainly I haven't received any such calls this year, or maybe the word has gone around - that I'm an oldie. Old age has some benefits.

This is certainly a good idea, to get back at very persistent callers.

It seems, before a law is put in place to stop such callers, one has to expect at least one call a day. However, some may be rather harmless:
A call from Italy from a perfect speaking caller trying to sell me excellent quality Olive Oil. I asked him how did he get my number, he said from the "System", I answered "we are not even listed, so again, where did you get my number, he insisted from the "System". So even if your number is not listed and you book a hotel in Italy, you might end up getting annoying calls.

Confusing are calls from the so-called "Verbraucherzentrale Zürich" trying to sell people 20% cheaper health insurances. K-Tipp keeps a list of such persisting dodgy numbers .

More alarming, are calls from a company called "mywindowsupport.com" claiming they work with Microsoft an need you to open your PC so he would help you get rid of malicious software. It seem to be located in India and using this scam around the globe! Needless to say what could happen if one follows their instructions.

How can you block your landline number when making calls? I've called out for a service and given my mobile number as a contact. But they still call back on my landline and have given it out to other workers. I did ask cablecom for my number to be unlisted but that doesn't block call display, it seems.

Blow an Airhorn down the phone each time they call

We get lots from 'Windows' - they were very confused when I asked them where I can get curtains from!

I am SOOO glad that i saw this i thought it was a bit odd when they windows people called the other day i just said i was busy and had guests staying and he was persistant would call back another time!! So far today its 3 times and said I am NOT interested... it comes up 0020.... so egypt apparently

Of course one can always go batshit insane!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj2oXMdZ4sk

This is in very bad taste and i apologise to anyone it may offend....

Answer the phone....

" Good morning, thank you for calling Dignitas, how may i help you?"

I've the same "phone calls" on my work mobile recently-
Quite curious on how they got it because I hardly disclosed it...

The only times I gave that number was for the city services (admin, electricity, , assura, etc...)...

wondering if they have no leaks or if there's a tick box I missed warning that they will disclose it for commercial purposes...

Oh dear that takes me back a few years to when I was a student and some 15 or so of us lived in an old house with a single phone. For incoming calls, someone would eventually pick up the phone and:

1) (in fake Chinese accent) - Blad flood Chinese takeaway. Can I have your order please?
or
2) British Rail Enquiries. How can I help you? On one occasion, I did this and was rewarded with a timid voice at the other end. "Oh that's strange, that's us and I was trying to call a client". Followed embarassed explanation from self.

Note to self - try this on junk phone callers again.