Lose My Phone Number! I'm on the Do Not Call List

Most time it's a computer, but sometimes it is a person. You tell the person you are on the Do Not Call List, but that does not help. Within a week they will call back. How do you stop these calls?

Let's look and see what we are dealing with. I am going show you why I took myself off the Do Not Call List and how I stopped most of the calls. You might find this interesting.

First let's look at the Do Not Call List web site:
www.donotcall.gov

"Most telemarketers should not call your number once it has been on the registry for 31 days."

Why am I pointing this out to you? Because if you look at this next web page:
https://telemarketing.donotcall.gov

"Starting January 1, 2005, telemarketers and sellers will be required to search the registry at least once every 31 days and drop from their call lists the phone numbers of consumers who have registered."

For you who are on this list, your number is right there for those telemarketers to look up, keep and use.

Read this:

http://www.nclnet.org/donotcall.htm

"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."

So you think you gotten rid of the telemarketers, but that is only about half of the people who have been calling you. You still have to deal with nonprofit groups, charities, political organizations, and survey companies. Let's look at this group of callers.

When someone calls you on the phone, how can you tell if they are what they say or if it is a scam? Most salespeople know if you are on the list, chances are you are a "soft touch." Let's say I call you and tell you that I am from some nonprofit groups or charity. I tell you a sad story. Soon I have convinced you to get me your credit card number. Next thing you know, I am taking you to the cleaners. I could do the same thing if I told you that I was from some political organizations that needed your help. On the same note, how about I say am doing a survey for some company and ask you in this survey for your name, address, driver license and social security number. Now I can steal your identity.

Another thing they ask for to get on the Do Not Call List is your email address. Now let's say I get that list and sell it to some scam or spam artist. Soon your email mailbox is filled with all kinds of offers and sad stories.

If you are on the Do Not Call List and they are still calling you, tell them that you are going to report them to the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) then hang up.
You can report them:
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/tcpa.html

Not just for calls but for junk faxes too!

To report Spam go to:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/spam/report.html

It does not take a high IQ to see why I am not on the Do Not Call List. Does it really protect you or leave you an open target?

DZBO
May 28th 2009