We pay a small amount to have caller-id, so I do not answer the phone unless I recognize the number. Thankfully, we don't get in-person solicitors, in our old house, we'd only get religious ones, and I would say, "I have a church I like, thanks," and that usually put them off.

We had a "magazine sales" person once, and I said "I used to work for one, so I don't want any coming to my house, all I see are the mistakes," and I told them NOT to go to the couple next door, as if they ever went inside they would have seen stacks of years worth of magazines, and the last thing Kay needed was more coming in the door! I watched, and the guy didn't even approach her house.