The National Do-Not-Call Registry gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls at home but there are a few details you should know about!
We all hate telemarketers and not just the con artists. No one likes that perfectly timed sales call that interrupts your family meal or wakes you up when you’re trying to take a nap. Come to think of it, there is no good time to get a telemarketing call. I don’t care if it’s my favorite charity because as a policy I never give out financial information over the phone. It’s a safe practice and I urge you all to do the same.
One thing that makes saying “no” to a telemarketer easier is to reduce the volume of telemarketing calls coming in. One way to do that is to get on the National Do-Not-Call Registry. It’s easy, free, and thanks to recent legislation, permanent
The National Do-Not-Call Registry
Getting on the “No Call” list is completely free and takes only a few minutes of your time. Call 888-382-1222, TTY 866-290-4326 from the phone number you want to register, or go to www.donotcall.gov. Within 31 days you should see a significant decrease in the number of incoming telemarketing calls. You can renew your registration every five years.
Getting on the list doesn’t stop all telemarketing calls
The Do-Not-Call Registry is not 100% effective. A few exceptions exist that you should be aware of: Nonprofit groups, charities, political organizations, and survey companies don’t have to use the National Do-Not-Call list. But when charities use professional fundraisers to call, they must honor your request not to call again.
Besides the above some companies may give you a friendly mid-meal call because there are still a few more exceptions that you need to be aware of: A company can still call you if: you purchased something from them or made a payment in the past 18 months; you asked about a product or service or applied for something in the past three months; or you have a “personal relationship” as a friend, relative or acquaintance. But you always have the right to tell them not to call again.
You may unknowingly opt to receive telemarketing calls
Read the fine print before you sign on the dotted line! Companies can also call with your written permission, so look at contracts, order forms, contest entry forms, and other things you sign carefully. You can withdraw consent anytime by saying, “don’t call me again.”
It may take a while to notice fewer calls. Telemarketers check the national registry every three months so it may take that long to remove your number from their lists. Telemarketers you told not to call again must remove your number in 30 days.
If you don’t register, you still have rights. You can tell companies not to call you again on a case-by-case basis. Keep a record of their names and the dates of your requests.
Enforce your “Do-Not-Call” rights. Report violations through the “Do-Not-Call” toll-free number or Web site. You can also sue telemarketers that violate your “Do-Not-Call” rights in small claims court for $500 (the court can triple that amount if the company knowingly broke the law).
More Information on Do-Not-Call Lists
- State Do-Not-Call Lists
- The Official National Do-Not-Call Website
- Optoutprescreen.com: Is Optoutprescreen legit?
- More ways to “Opt Out”