Tired of Those Pesky Telemarketing Calls?
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2003-11-12 16:01:00-05:00
Sign up for the new National Do Not Call Registry
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) now says, "You Make the Call" about receiving telemarketing calls at home or on your cell phone. The new National Do-Not-Call Registry gives you the choice. You can register - either online or by phone - to stop sales calls. Best of all, registration is free.
Who is responsible for National Do-Not-Call Registry?
The FTC is responsible for the National Do-Not-Call Registry.
What calls will the National Do-Not-Call Registry cover?
The national do not call registry will stop most, but not all telemarketing calls. Political calls, calls from charities, and calls from businesses with which you have an existing business relationship will still be allowed. An "existing business relationship" is defined as a business from which you've purchased goods or services within the last 18 months. If it's been longer than that since you've patronized the business, they are in violation of the law if they call you. If you've only called a business with a request or question, these businesses may only call you for three months after this contact. For calls from charities, you can still request to be on their internal "do not call" list, and they must honor this request. Political calls are not covered at all, and are not considered telemarketing as they are not made to market goods or services. For more information on the registry, go to www.ftc.gov to find the fact sheet, "You Make the Call: The FTC's New Telemarketing Sales Rule". To find out how the FCC complements the FTC Rule, visit www.fcc.gov. (The FTC does not have jurisdiction over common carriers, financial institutions, or insurance companies, and cannot regulate intrastate calls, but the FCC fills in these gaps through their regulatory authority.)
When I register, what are the time frames?
If you register by Aug. 31, you will begin to see a reduction in telemarketing calls when the registry takes effect on Oct. 1. If you register after Aug. 31, telemarketers will have up to three months from the date you register to stop calling you. Your telephone number will remain in the registry for five years unless you disconnect it or remove it from the registry. After five years, you will be responsible for renewing your registration.
Where can I find more information?
Visit the FTC Web site for the fact sheet, "You Make the Call: The FTC's New Telemarketing Sales Rule" and Q&As; on the National Do Not Call Registry.
How do I register?
Online
Visit DONOTCALL.GOV. If you register online, you must provide an e-mail address to confirm your registration. Only the telephone number you register will be retained. The e-mail address you use will be deleted.
By Phone
For both home and cell phones: Call toll-free, 888-382-1222 (TTY 866-290-4236). Remember - to register by phone, you must call from the number you want to register. Either way you register, you will not receive a confirmation. But, if you want to verify that your number is on the list, check online or call the registry's toll-free number.
Why should I register?
The answer is simple. If you want to eliminate most of the annoying telemarketing calls you receive each day, "You Make the Call."
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