Drew explains how YOURLifeChoices subscriber Petra can weed out telemarketing calls on her landline.

Q. Hi,
I would like to direct this query to Drew. I read with interest your article on how to stop “junk calls” on mobiles. My issue is receiving “junk calls” on my landline. My number is on the Do Not Call register, but I still receive charity and other types of marketing calls. Is there a way to stop these calls for good?
Petra

A. Hi Petra,
After scouring the internet and several calls to local electronic retailers, I couldn’t find a handset with a similar feature to the ‘Do Not Disturb’ option on the iPhone. The good news is that even though you can’t stop the telemarketing calls, there are handsets available which will allow you to selectively answer calls.

I have one of the latest Panasonic phones at home, but from what I have been reading online, the majority of new phones come with the required features for weeding out telemarketing calls.

The two features which are essential in the process are the ability to record phone contact phone numbers and names in the phone and for the phone to have an answering machine feature. Most phones being advertised allow for at least 50 numbers, but you can find some with 100 if you have that many friends!

My current phone allows me to set alternative ring tones for different phone numbers. What I have done with my phone is used a specific ring tone for every one of the contacts recorded in my phone. This means that if someone who isn’t in my phone calls, the phones default ring tone will sound and I won’t rush to the phone, instead, I will let it go through to the answering machine. If it is someone I want to talk to and they start to leave a message, I have the option of picking up the phone and talking to the person.

After all, if it is an emergency, they will call back or ring my mobile phone!