Aw shucks! Dinnertime is the best time for me to call. Actually I've used the following with great success. When a telemarketer asks for me, I hesitate for a moment and then say "He died this morning. Is there a message you would like to leave for the family?" They usually say they'll take me off their calling list and express regret. I strongly suspect that their regret is that they can't sell me anything. But it works.

Another technique that I've used is to listen to as much of their initial pitch as I can stand, tell them I'm very interested but I've got something on the stove that needs to be stirred and would they mind holding for a moment. I never come back. Probably ties my phone up for a couple of minutes but I figure it's a public service. They can't call and bother someone else when they're holding for me.