How to Stop Unwanted Sales Calls

Tired of those pesky telemarketers? The good news is that there are more ways than ever to control who calls you.

·        Sign up for the national “do not call” registry. By September 2003, most telemarketers will be required to remove phone numbers that are on the national registry from their calling lists. Enforcement begins October 1, 2003 .

·        Some callers aren’t covered. Nonprofit groups, charities, political organizations, and survey companies don’t have to use the national “do not call” list. But there is a special rule for charities that requires them to honor your request if you tell them not to call again.    

·        It’s easy to register your number – and it’s free. You can do it by going to www.donotcall.gov or calling toll-free, 1-888-382-1222. For people with difficulty hearing, the TTY number is1-866-290-4236. To sign up by phone, you must call from the number you wish to register. If you have multiple phone numbers, you can register up to three at a time online; if you’re registering by phone, you must make separate calls from each number. Cell phones can be included. However, business phone numbers can’t be put on the “do not call” registry. There is no charge, and no deadline, for registering.

·        If someone offers to register your number for you, it’s a scam. Con artists use these ploys to get money from consumers or to steal their personal information for illegal purposes.

·        You don’t have to provide lots of personal information to register. The online registration form will ask for your phone number(s) and email address. A response will follow by email providing a link that you must click on within 72 hours to complete the registration. Your email address will be kept secure and not shared with anyone. If you register by phone, you will be asked to enter the phone number you’re calling from. The system will compare that number with what shows on the “Automatic Number Identification,” a type of Caller ID. If the two match, the number will be registered. No names or other personal information is required. The only information that telemarketers get is the phone numbers to remove from their lists.

·        It may take a while to notice fewer telemarketing calls. Telemarketers that are required to use the national “do not call” registry must check it every three months to remove any numbers that are on their calling lists. If you register before August 31, 2003 you should receive fewer telemarketing calls by October 1. Those who register on or after September 1, 2003 should notice a decline in sales calls within 90 days.

·        Telemarketers can still call in some cases even if your number is on the registry. Companies can call if they have an “established business relationship” with you – if you’ve purchased something from them, received a delivery from them, or made a payment to them within the last 18 months, or if you asked about a product or service or submitted an application for something within the last 3 months. They can also call if they have “personal relationships” with you – if they are friends, relatives, or acquaintances. But you have the right to tell them not to call again.                       

·        Companies can also call if you’ve given them written permission. Look at contracts, contest entry forms, and other things you sign carefully to make sure that you’re not giving consent to call you without realizing it.

·        The national registry doesn’t automatically replace state “do not call” lists. Some states plan to transfer numbers on their lists to the national registry, others don’t. You can find out about how the federal rules relate to your state’s law by going to the “do not call” Web site.

·        You can confirm that your number is on the national “do not call” registry. You can check anytime to confirm that your number is on the registry or find out when your registration expires by going to the “do not call” Web site or calling the toll-free number.

·        Registration doesn’t last forever. It expires in five years. No notice will be sent to you, so keep your own records or check periodically to remind yourself when you need to renew your registration. You will also need to re-register if you change phone numbers or your number is disconnected. If you no longer want your number on the registry, you can delete it at any time through the Web site or toll-free number. It may take up to 90 days before telemarketers put you back on their calling lists, if they choose to do so.

·        If you don’t to want to get on the national registry, you can still reduce the number of unwanted sales calls you receive. You have the right to tell companies not to call you again on a case-by-case basis. Keep a record of the company names and the dates of your requests.

·        Know what to do if your “do not call” rights are violated. If you believe your rights have been violated, you can make a complaint through the “do not call” toll-free number or Web site. The Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission have both adopted “do not call” rules and will work cooperatively to enforce them. You also have the right to sue telemarketers in your local court for violating the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act. You can seek up to $500 per violation; the court can triple that to a maximum penalty of $1,500 if the telemarketer knowingly broke the law.

·        Find out more about your federal telemarketing rights. In addition to the information on the “do not call” Web site, the FTC offers tips about your telemarketing rights at www.ftc.gov/bcp/menu-tmark.htm and through its general helpline, 1-877-382-4357, TTY 1-866-653-4261 (but if you want to register, you must use the special “do not call” number or Web site). For information from the FCC, go to www.fcc.gov/cgb/policy/telemarketing.html or call 1-888-225-5322, TTY 1-888-835-5322.