Do Not Call Registry, Cell Phone Numbers to Be Published December 2009

The US National 'Do Not Call' registry gives participants an option to put themselves on a list so that marketers will not call them. It boasts over 189 million registered and provides a centrally located place where marketing folks can compare their call lists to identify people who do not want to be solicited. The Federal Trade Commission or FTC requires that telemarketers scrub their call list against this database every 31 days.

Some organizations are exempt from this law such as political campaigns and genuine survey's because they are not trying to sell anything. Also, if you have bought something from a company, by law, they can follow up with you up to 18 months after you did business with them. If you inquired about a product they have, they can follow up with you up to three months later, even if your number is on the Do Not Call list.

This month, cell phone numbers go public, meaning that marketers can call you on your cell phone, and you might even be charged for this, depending upon the type of plan you have.

In order to register your cell phone number with the Do Not Call list, you must call from the phone you want to be listed.

According to the FTC, they take enforcement of the registry very seriously

"To date, the Commission has brought nearly 60 enforcement actions against companies and telemarketers for Registry violations, the largest being a settlement with DirecTV and its telemarketers that resulted in fine of more than $5.3 million. Violations include, but are not limited to, calling consumers on the Registry, not buying the Registry before telemarketing, calling under the pretense of conducting a survey; calling consumers after the 18-month established business relationship has expired. A complete list of DNC-related enforcement actions taken to date can be found at:http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/donotcall/cases.html."
Originally, when this registry was first created, consumers were told their listing would be good for five years, however, recently congress recently passed legislation that makes your registry on the do not call list, permanent, meaning that you no longer have to call back and re-register.

The only thing the registry keeps is the telephone number, they do not store people's names or addresses, and they do not distinguish between cell phone numbers or land lines.

To register go to the following link: http://www.ftc.gov/donotcall. You can use this to register land lines or cell phones but must provide an email address that will need to be reviewed and acknowledged within 72 hours; otherwise your phones will not be registered.

Or you can call 888-382-1222 with the phone you want to register.

After registering you have to wait 31 days to make sure marketers have scrubbed their lists. After the 31 days if you want to file a complaint you can call the number above or go online to the do not call link.

Reference:

http://www.donotcall.gov/

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/reporter/dnc.shtm