So the other day at work I tried to get a lady to do a survey over the phone. She got upset because it was late and "how dare I call her this late". I responded saying it was my job and I had to ask whoever popped up on my screen. She told me "get a real job". I didn't know how to react, offended I felt. I then put her on a do not call list so that other employees won't get screamed that as well. Why do people just simply suck? I simple polite "no thank you" would be just fine.
(After writing the following, I noticed that you said "survey", not marketing. I consider that to be a reasonable use of the phone. I guess my response below doesn't really qualify in your case.)
I have been on your side of the phone before so I can understand how you feel. I know you are just doing your job, however, my current attitude is that I pay for my phone service for my need not the telemarketing company's greed.
I resent someone I have never met intruding on my time and life only to try to sell me something I have no use for. I pay for every minute I use on my cell phone. What right does some complete stranger have to spend my money and to interrupt my thinking and my life just to lie to me?
Some of the lies I regularly pay for to receive are about the IRS having problems about my payments and about there being problems with my credit cards (I have no credit cards) or about there being a problem with my Windows computer. (I do not use Windows OS.)
Why should I pay 20 cents a minute for them to waist a part of my life and interrupt what I am doing with their lies?
I am not saying you are wrong to do your job. I have done it myself. But there are reasons people react to other people disturbing their lives for no reason other than to make money for their owners of their company.
(I especially hate automated sales pitches where I have to deal with a mindless soulless computer instead of a human being.)
Some years ago I was taking a shower and the phone rang. I hopped out of the shower thinking one of my friends were calling and answered the phone dripping wet. The lady told me I won a vacation and she just wanted to ask a few questions. I spent a minute or more answering her questions and then at the last she asked me if I made a certain amount per year. I said "no" and then she quickly said, "I'm sorry. You don't qualify" then she hung up on me.
I was standing there soaking wet. She had told me I won a prize. She wasted a minute or more of my life, then, after all my cooperation with her, she said I wasn't good enough and then rudely hung up on me. I resent that.
With respect to you and your position, I can't think of any use telemarketers have in my life, and I resent them interfering so much in my life and requiring me to pay for their interruptions in my life.
If your job is paying the bills, I don't criticize you for doing it. I don't have the same feelings for cold calling businesses. I have done that, too.
It is quite reasonable to call a business with an opportunity to help them do their business better.