State-by-State List of No-Call Registration Info
By: Source: AARP Bulletin Today Date Posted: 2003-09-03 13:16:00-04:00
Thanks to the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) National Do Not Call Registry, all American households can reclaim quieter dinner hours and significantly reduce telemarketing calls. (The telemarketing industry challenged the national registry in federal court on freedom-of-speech grounds. The FTC can implement and enforce the registry while the court deliberates the case.)
Dozens of states also have laws limiting telemarketing phone calls, providing additional penalties for violators.
Keep in mind that all states with no-call laws don't necessarily maintain their own lists of registered phone numbers. Indeed, some states make their residents sign up with national registries such as the FTC's National Do Not Call Registry or the Direct Marketing Association's registry, and those states' no-call laws simply establish penalties for telemarketers who call state residents on those lists.
Other states with no-call laws run their own registries. Residents in these states are urged to sign up for both the federal and their state list.
Be aware that many types of organizations are exempt from the federal and state no-call laws. For instance, political organizations, charities, telephone surveyors and companies with which you have an existing business relationship may still call you.
Sign up, at no charge, for the National Do Not Call Registry online or by calling 1-888-382-1222 (TTY 1-866-290-4236) from the phone number you want listed.
Use the drop-down menu below or scroll down this page to find links to and details about no-call registration info in your state.
Alabama
- How to register: Online via the FTC's national registry, to which Alabama's no-call website provides a link
- Cost: Free
- How long until registration becomes active: For Alabamans who registered on the state's list before Aug. 14, 2003, federal enforcement began Oct. 1. Registration after that takes three months to become effective.
- How long does phone number stay on list: Five years
- Notes: Residents gain more protections with the national registry, as Alabama's no-call law is weaker than the federal registry.
Alaska
- How to register: Via your local telephone company
- Cost: Between $5 and $50
- How long until registration becomes active: Weeks to several months, depending upon publication of the next telephone directory
- How long does phone number stay on list: As long as a number is listed
- Notes: The state Attorney General's office encourages residents to sign up for the free national registry also. The state law covers most intrastate telemarketing calls, which the federal registry does not.
Arizona
- How to register: Online via the FTC's national registry
- Cost: Free
- How long until registration becomes active: Three months
- How long does phone number stay on list: Five years
- Notes: Arizona recently passed its no-call law, using the federal database instead of its own registry. The new state law provides recourse in state courts for telemarketing violations.
Arkansas
- How to register: Print out and mail a registration form available on the state's no-call website.
- Cost: $5 per phone number per year
- How long until registration becomes active: Three months
- How long does phone number stay on list: One year
- Notes: Residents who signed up for the state list prior to Sept. 3, 2003, are automatically added to the federal database. Going forward, the state Attorney General's office encourages residents to sign up for both the state and national list. Arkansas' law covers intrastate telemarketing calls, which the national registry does not.
California
- How to register: Online via the FTC's national registry, to which California's no-call website provides a link
- Cost: Free
- How long until registration becomes active: Three months
- How long does phone number stay on list: Five years
- Notes: California's law gives added remedy by allowing consumers to take claims against alleged violators to small-claims court. Owners of small businesses who make telemarketing calls personally within 50 miles of business location are exempt.
Colorado
- How to register: Online or by calling (888) 249-9097
- Cost: Free
- How long until registration becomes active: List is updated quarterly
- How long does phone number stay on list: No limit
- Notes: Colorado sends the names of those on its list automatically to the national registry. Colorado law also covers telemarketing calls made from within Colorado.
Connecticut
- How to register: Online via the FTC's national registry, to which Connecticut's no-call website provides a link
- Cost: Free
- How long until registration becomes active: Three months
- How long does phone number stay on list: Five years
- Notes: Connecticut residents enjoy tougher restrictions than the federal registry offers, including protection against calls made from within Connecticut. The program's website offers an online complaint form, and it identifies the types of telemarketing calls that are exempt from the law.
Florida
- How to register: Print out and mail a registration form available on the state's no-call website.
- Cost: $10 per phone number to join the list; $5 each year to renew
- How long until registration becomes active: List is updated quarterly
- How long does phone number stay on list: As long as you maintain the phone number
- Notes: Floridians should sign up for both the national list and the state list in order to get state protections.
Georgia
- How to register: Online via the FTC's national registry, to which Georgia's no-call website provides a link
- Cost: Free
- How long until registration becomes active: Three months
- How long does phone number stay on list: Five years
Idaho
- How to register: Online
- Cost: Free
- How long until registration becomes active: List is updated quarterly
- How long does phone number stay on list: Three years
- Notes: Idaho's Attorney General's office encourages residents to sign up with the national registry, as that will automatically place residents on the state's no-call list too. However, residents can sign up for only the state list, if they choose. The federal list provides broader protections, but the state list covers telemarketing calls made from within Idaho.
Illinois
- How to register: Online via the FTC's national registry, to which Illinois' no-call website provides a link
- Cost: Free
- How long until registration becomes active: Three months
- How long does phone number stay on list: Five years
Indiana
- How to register: Online or by calling (888) 834-9969
- Cost: Free
- How long until registration becomes active: List is updated quarterly
- How long does phone number stay on list: No limit
- Notes: The state's Attorney General says Indiana residents should sign up for the state list in order to enjoy more protections than those offered by the national registry.
Kansas
- How to register: Online via the FTC's national registry, to which Kansas' no-call website provides a link
- Cost: Free
- How long until registration becomes active: List is updated quarterly
- How long does phone number stay on list: Five years
Kentucky
- How to register: Online or by calling (866) 877-7867
- Cost: Free
- How long until registration becomes active: List is updated quarterly
- How long does phone number stay on list: No limit
- Notes: The program's website also offers a complaint form.
Louisiana
- How to register: Online or by calling (877) 676-0773
- Cost: Free
- How long until registration becomes active: Between 30 and 120 days
- How long does phone number stay on list: Five years
- Notes: State officials suggest residents register for both lists.
Maine
- How to register: Online
- Cost: Free
- How long until registration becomes active: Six months
- How long does phone number stay on list: Five years
- Notes: Maine encourages residents to sign up for both the state and the federal list.
Massachusetts
- How to register: Online or by calling (866) 231-2255
- Cost: Free
- How long until registration becomes active: List is updated quarterly
- How long does phone number stay on list: No limit
- Notes: Massachusetts shares names with the federal registry, but state officials recommend residents sign up for both lists.
Michigan
- How to register: Online via the FTC's national registry, to which Michigan's no-call website provides a link
- Cost: Free
- How long until registration becomes active: Three months
- How long does phone number stay on list: Five years
Minnesota
- How to register: Online or by calling (800) 921-4110
- Cost: Free
- How long until registration becomes active: List is updated quarterly
- How long does phone number stay on list: Four years
- Notes: Minnesota shares its list with the federal registry.
Mississippi
- How to register: Online or by calling (866) 622-5567
- Cost: Free
- How long until registration becomes active: List is updated quarterly
- How long does phone number stay on list: Five years from the expiration date of the period in which you registered
- Notes: The 2003 state law allows a number of organizations—including organizations that don't make "major" sales presentations over the phone, real estate agents, car dealers and others—to call residential numbers on the state list. Residents who sign up for the federal list also will be included on the state list.
Missouri
- How to register: Online or by calling (866) 662-2551
- Cost: Free
- How long until registration becomes active: List is updated quarterly
- How long does phone number stay on list: No limit
- Notes: The program's website also offers a complaint form and identifies actions taken against telemarketers. Missouri does not share its list with the federal registry. Residents must sign up for each list.
Montana
- How to register: To be determined
- Cost: Free
- How long until registration becomes active: List will be updated quarterly
- How long does phone number stay on list: Five years
- Notes: Montana's list does not start until January 2004. Montana urges residents to sign up for the federal registry.
Nevada
- How to register: To be determined
- Cost: Free
- How long until registration becomes active: List will be updated quarterly
- How long does phone number stay on list: Three years
- Notes: Nevada residents are encouraged to sign up for the national registry. Recent state law directs the attorney general to decide by April 1, 2004, to piggyback onto the federal registry or create a state-run registry.
New Hampshire
- How to register: Online via the FTC's national registry
- Cost: Free
- How long until registration becomes active: List is updated quarterly
- How long does phone number stay on list: Five years
New Jersey
- How to register: Online
- Cost: Free
- How long until registration becomes active: List will be updated quarterly
- How long does phone number stay on list: No limit
- Notes: The New Jersey registry will not launch until May 2004. The state encourages residents to sign up with the federal registry and will include these numbers in the state registry.
New Mexico
- How to register: Online via the FTC's national registry, to which New Mexico's no-call website provides a link
- Cost: Free
- How long until registration becomes active: List is updated quarterly
- How long does phone number stay on list: Five years
New York
- How to register: Online via the FTC's national registry, to which New York's no-call website provides a link
- Cost: Free
- How long until registration becomes active: List is updated quarterly
- How long does phone number stay on list: Five years
- Notes: New York had created its own registry prior to the federal registry, but the state no longer collects phone numbers itself. The New York State Consumer Protection Board expects telemarketers to stop calling the 3.8 million state residents who have signed up for either the state or federal registry.
North Carolina
- How to register: Online via the FTC's national registry, to which North Carolina's no-call website provides a link
- Cost: Free
- How long until registration becomes active: List is updated quarterly
- How long does phone number stay on list: Five years
North Dakota
- How to register: Online via the FTC's national registry, to which North Dakota's no-call website provides a link
- Cost: Free
- How long until registration becomes active: List is updated quarterly
- How long does phone number stay on list: Five years
- Notes: Registration on the national list also adds your number to the state list.
Oklahoma
- How to register: Online or by calling (800) 390-5708
- Cost: Free
- How long until registration becomes active: List is updated quarterly
- How long does phone number stay on list: Two years
Oregon
- Notes: Oregon's No Call program was terminated as of October 1, 2003. Residents who previously registered their number on the Oregon No Call List must re-register on the national registry. Oregon suggests that residents register both their home and mobile phone numbers with the national registry.
Pennsylvania
- How to register: Online via the Direct Marketing Association's Telephone Preference Service or by calling (888) 777-3406
- Cost: $5 online or free by mail
- How long until registration becomes active: List is updated quarterly
- How long does phone number stay on list: Five years
South Dakota
- How to register: Online via the FTC's national registry, to which South Dakota's no-call website provides a link
- Cost: Free
- How long until registration becomes active: List is updated quarterly
- How long does phone number stay on list: Five years
Tennessee
- How to register: Online or by calling (877) 872-7030
- Cost: Free
- How long until registration becomes active: 60 days after the end of the month in which you sign up
- How long does phone number stay on list: Five years
- Notes: The program's website also offers a complaint form (as a PDF file) for you to print out and mail in.
Texas
- How to register: Online or by calling (866) 896-6225
- Cost: $2.25 per telephone number
- How long until registration becomes active: List is updated quarterly
- How long does phone number stay on list: Three years
- Notes: The state encourages Texans to sign up for both the state and federal programs, as registrants' numbers on Texas' registry will not be forwarded to the federal program. Beginning Jan 1, 2004, mobile phone numbers can be placed on the Texas registry.
Vermont
- How to register: Online or by mail with the Direct Marketing Association's Telephone Preference Service
- Cost: $5 online or free by mail
- How long until registration becomes active: List is updated quarterly
- How long does phone number stay on list: Five years
Wisconsin
- How to register: Online or by calling (866) 966-2255 toll free
- Cost: Free
- How long until registration becomes active: List is updated quarterly
- How long does phone number stay on list: Two years
- Notes: Wisconsin will not share numbers with the federal registry.
Wyoming
- How to register: Online or by mail with the Direct Marketing Association's Telephone Preference Service
- Cost: $5 online or free by mail
- How long until registration becomes active: List is updated quarterly
- How long does phone number stay on list: Five years
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