Once connected, the TeleZapper II works in the background and requires no further input from the user. You'll only need one TeleZapper II for all phones connected to that line. However, if you have more than one telephone number, you'll need a TeleZapper II for each additional phone line.

The single tone transmitted when the telephone is answered is very short and subtle, and testers report that most callers don't even hear it. If they do notice it, generally the comments came from callers after their third or forth call, but most didn't feel that it was at all intrusive.

Besides being smaller in size than the TeleZapper, the TeleZapper II includes two other features. One is a user selectable switch to change the number of tones it will transmit. The default is one tone, exactly the same as the original TeleZapper. The second choice is three tones, identical to those three tones you hear when you have dialed a disconnected number. This improvement was included for those who wish to have a second line of defense against persistent telemarketers who alter their predictive dialers to ignore the single tone. Also, this unit is powered by a lithium battery and does not require household current. The manufacturer projects the battery life to be approximately 7 years.

We also tested the product with the company phone system which has it's own control unit, intercom, and multiple phones. The TeleZapper II worked just as well under these conditions, although because our business uses several lines, we needed several additional TeleZapper IIs.

As an added benefit, the TeleZapper II continues to work in the background even when an answering machine picks up the phone, resulting in a diminished number of calls over time. The calls that did get past the TeleZapper II were manually dialed calls from smaller, more local companies, dialing numbers for each area in sequence.

Privacy Corps recommends this product as a good value, in terms of ease of use, effectiveness, and reliability. We were also pleasantly surprised by the free technical support available from the manufacturer via their toll-free number.

Customer Testimonials

"Just wanted to let you know I bought the TeleZapper out of desperation a few weeks ago. My home telemarketing calls have now STOPPED!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH! You have saved my sanity". Sue - Manassas, VA

"Thank you, TeleZapper! You've saved me the cost of replacing the glass in my bedroom window, and a doctor bill for trying to throw my phone a hundred yards! Yes, I'm talking about those late, and I do mean late, nighttime calls trying to sell me everyting from newspapers, family portraits, to life insurance! Ah, privacy...what a beautiful word!" Ruben - Palmdale, CA

"A friend of mine loaned me his tele-zapper as I was inundated with telemarketing calls. I used his unit for approximately three months and tonight he asked for it back. Darn! Am going to buy a new one tomorrow for myself as it has cut my calls down to near zero and I don't want to take a chance of them starting up again. Good product and works as advertised." Betty - Orangevale, CA

We would love to hear from you if you have used one of our products!

CLICK HERE to fill out our product feedback form.

How do telemarketing calls work?

There are several hundred telemarketing call centers in the U.S., with the vast majority of telemarketing calls being dialed by a computer known as an auto dialer or predictive dialer. Predictive dialers can dial 3-5 numbers simultaneously and can make as many as 500,000 calls between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. When you answer your phone, the computer connects you to a live telemarketer who tries to sell you something. If you are not home or if the computer gets your answering machine, your number will be put back in the database to be called again later.

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How does my number get on telemarketing lists?

You can get on telemarketing lists in many ways:

• By having a listed telephone number;
  
  
• Through a reverse phone book organized by neighborhood;
  
  
• When you dial an 800 number that uses an Automatic Number Identification system (ANI) to record your number;
  
  
• Via credit information services, such as Equifax, etc.;
  
  
• By ordering products or services from direct marketers or catalogs, whether you order through the mail, from web sites, or via 800 numbers;
  
  
• By printing or including your telephone number on your personal checks;
  
  
• Even by simply paying your monthly bills.

These lists of telephone numbers are then often sold, bartered, rented, shared and copied from one telemarketer to another. As your number constantly finds its way onto new call lists, the TeleZapper II will continue to do its job over time to help you protect your privacy.

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How does the TeleZapper II "zap" telemarketers?

The TeleZapper II uses the technology of telemarketers' automatic dialing equipment against them. When you or your answering machine picks up a call, the TeleZapper II emits a special tone that "fools" the computer into thinking your number is disconnected. When the computer hears the tone, it hangs up before you can be connected to a telemarketer and then deletes your phone number from its database. Overtime, as your number is removed from more and more databases, you'll see a dramatic decrease in the number of annoying telemarketing calls you receive.

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Will the TeleZapper II "zap" calls from anyone other than telemarketers?

The TeleZapper II is designed to "zap" calls made by predictive dialer computers by doing two things: first, by disconnecting predictive-dialed calls before you can be connected to a live telemarketer and second, by deleting your phone number from telemarketing computer lists. Whether the TeleZapper II will affect computer-dialed calls from other sources depends on the type of computer equipment and how that equipment is being used. Therefore, it may also "zap" calls from other organizations that use predictive dialer computers, such as charitable organizations, blood banks, public safety and service organizations, market researchers, opinion and political pollsters, and academic institutions.

Many organizations and communities do not rely entirely on computerized calling systems to reach you. Most have secondary means in place to contact or notify people with important information. Furthermore, these organizations can always contact you by simply dialing your phone number manually. Manually dialed calls will not be zapped. As such, you can notify organizations to determine if they use predictive dialers and, if so, to ask that your phone number be manually dialed or that alternate means be used in order to contact you.

Finally, during times of severe weather or at any time that important public emergency notifications might be received, you can quickly and easily disconnect your TeleZapper II to allow all calls, including those placed by computerized dialers, to be successfully completed.

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How do I know when I've "zapped" someone?

If you answer your telephone and there's no one there, the odds are that you just "zapped" a telemarketer. After a few weeks, you'll notice that you are receiving fewer and fewer of these calls.

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Why buy a TeleZapper II instead of letting my answering machine or caller ID screen telemarketing calls?

The TeleZapper II is the only product that emits a signal that "tells" predictive dialer computers your number is disconnected. Unlike answering machines or caller ID, once the TeleZapper II's tone is emitted, your number is removed from the computer's call list. So, as time passes, you'll receive fewer and fewer annoying telemarketing calls. If the computer gets your answering machine, your number is put back into the database to be called again and again … and again. Most telemarketing calls show up on Caller ID as "out of area" or "private". But since many callers are identified in these ways, it's difficult to know who's calling and whether or not you want to pick up the phone. The TeleZapper II really is a better solution to keep telemarketers out!

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How do I install the TeleZapper II?

The TeleZapper II is easy to install. Simply plug it into any electrical outlet and phone jack to cover all extensions and answering machines connected to that line. Plus, you have flexibility to place the TeleZapper II anywhere in your home since you can plug the phone cord into a phone, into an answering machine, or directly into a phone jack.

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Do I need a TeleZapper II for each telephone extension?

No. One TeleZapper II covers all telephones and answering machines connected to the same line (telephone number). If you have two lines, you will need an additional TeleZapper II for your other line.

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Do I need to use a special phone with the TeleZapper II?

No. The TeleZapper II works on any home phone line and with any type of phone.

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Will the TeleZapper II interfere with my answering machine?

No. The TeleZapper II will not interfere with your answering machine. In fact, the TeleZapper II works with your answering machine to "zap" telemarketers when you are away or when you prefer not to answer the phone. When your answering machine picks up a call for you, the TeleZapper II emits its special tone to "zap" the telemarketer. Your name will have been deleted from another telemarketing list and you won't have been bothered at all. We do recommend that you re-record your message and delay speaking for a few seconds to allow time for the TeleZapper II tone prior to the start of your recorded message. A caller who wishes to leave a message on your answering machine will hear a short tone followed by your recording.

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I have voicemail from the telephone company. Will the TeleZapper II work with this?

Yes and No. Your telephone must go "off-hook" for the TeleZapper II to emit its tone. As long as you pick up a call, the phone goes "off-hook" and the TeleZapper II emits its tone to "zap" telemarketers. If, instead, the telephone company "answers" your calls through voicemail, your phone does not go "off-hook" and the TeleZapper II cannot emit its tone. The TeleZapper II will not interfere with the normal operation of your voicemail.

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Will the TeleZapper II interfere with my computer or fax machine?

No. The TeleZapper II does not interfere with the operation of your computer, your fax machine or other telecommunications or electronics equipment.

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Will the TeleZapper II work on junk faxes?

Yes. If your fax number is dialed by a computerized predictive dialing system that is programmed to listen for disconnected numbers, the TeleZapper II will "zap" your fax number from those calling lists.

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When is/should the red LED light on the TeleZapper II be on?

The red LED light flashes three times when the phone is picked up and the TeleZapper II emits its tone. Since the light is off at all other times, it does not mean your TeleZapper II is not working when the light is not illuminated.

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What's to keep telemarketers from just turning off the "disconnected" feature on their computerized dialing equipment?

Plenty! There are millions of non-working telephone numbers. Telemarketers succeed by efficiently connecting their operators to PEOPLE and then selling them something. The last thing they want is to waste time being connected to a non-working telephone number. Plus, when you've installed a Telezapper, you're telling the telemarketer you do not want to talk to them. There are laws that support your right to privacy and most telemarketers really don't want to violate those laws -- they just want to talk to someone who might buy something.

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Does the TeleZapper II block collectors' computer generated calls made to collect legitimate debts?

By purchasing the TeleZapper II, you are making a choice to protect your privacy. Before the introduction of the TeleZapper II, you may have used other methods to screen unwanted calls, such as Caller ID, Privacy Manager, and answering machines. The TeleZapper II is simply another option for people who are concerned about maintaining their privacy. That right is a fundamental one and is, indeed, constitutionally protected.

The vast majority of telemarketing calls are computer dialed at random. The TeleZapper II is designed to "zap" your phone number off telemarketers' computers. Whether the TeleZapper II will affect computer-dialed calls from other sources, such as collection agencies, depends on the type of computer equipment being used and how that equipment is being used. Therefore, the TeleZapper II may also "zap" calls from organizations, other than telemarketers, that also use predictive dialer computers.

The TeleZapper II will not "zap" bill collectors or other companies who dial a telephone number manually rather than through a predictive dialing computer.

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Does the TeleZapper II block incoming calling card calls?

Telezapper has learned that some long distance calling card manufacturers use a system similar to predictive dialing systems. Whether the TeleZapper II will affect computer dialed calling card calls depends on the type of computer equipment and how that equipment is being used. Since the TeleZapper II is designed to disconnect calls before a computerized predictive dialer can connect you to a live telemarketer/caller, there is also a chance that predictive-dialed calling card calls may not be completed.

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Does the TeleZapper II create a computer virus for the caller?

The TeleZapper II DOES NOT create a computer virus for callers. The TeleZapper II simply emits a tone that predictive dialer computers recognize as a disconnected number.

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Does the TeleZapper II interfere with a DSL connection?

The TeleZapper II DOES NOT interfere with a DSL connection. Be sure that the Telezapper is connected at a point after the DSL junction box.


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What are the differences between the TeleZappper and TeleZapper II?

Besides being smaller in size the TeleZapper II offers a user-selectable switch to choose between emitting one or three tones. It is also powered by a lithium battery with a projected useful life of approximately 7 years, and does not require household current.


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