New “Do Not Call” List

If you’re looking for a way to cut down on the number of those annoying, unwanted telephone calls you get from sellers, the federal government is now enrolling households in the new “Do Not Call” Registry. It costs nothing to join—and if you do, the number of unwanted calls you receive will drop dramatically. You can sign up for the Do Not Call list by calling toll-free (888) 382-1222, or you can join over the Internet by going to www.donotcall.gov. If you register by phone, you must call from the telephone line you wish to register.

Beginning this September, telemarketers will have to check the Registry. If your phone number is on the list, the telemarketing companies will be on notice that you do not want their calls. Companies must drop all Registry numbers from their call lists. If a telemarketer calls a number on the Registry, they can be fined up to $11,000 for each call. Your number will stay on the Registry for five years, after which you will have to renew.

Be aware that there are some limits to the new rules. Political calls, calls from the insurance industry, and solicitations for charitable contributions are not covered. However, if you specifically ask one of these organizations not to call you, they are required to honor your request. People who call you with a “survey” are also not subject to this new rule, but if the survey is linked to selling goods or services, it is subject to the “Do Not Call” rules.

If you don’t join the national list, you still have the right to call companies one-by-one and ask them to put you on their Do Not Call lists. The national Telephone Consumer Protection Act allows you to sue companies that don’t honor your request not to be called. If you have already signed up for the similar Massachusetts Do Not Call Registry, you don’t need to be listed in the federal one, because the lists will be merged. If you receive a phone call that you think violates these marketing rules, you can call 1-877-FTC-HELP to make a complaint.