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The federal government's National Do Not Call Registry is a free and easy way to
reduce telemarketing calls to your home. You can
register online
or call 1-888-382-1222 from the phone number you would like to register.
You no longer need to renew your registration every five years. Once you place your number in the registry, it will remain there unless you remove it. If you get restricted telemarketing calls after your
number has been in the national registry for three months, you can file a complaint
online or by calling
1-888-382-1222.
Placing your number on this national registry will stop most telemarketing calls,
but not all of them. Calls from political organizations, charities and telephone
surveyors are still permitted. So are some calls concerning insurance. Organizations
with which you already have a relationship can call you for up to 18 months after
your last purchase, payment or delivery. Companies to which you have made an inquiry
or submitted an application can call you for up to three months. You can stop these
calls by asking the company to put your number on its own do not call list.
You can also tell each telemarketer who calls to put you on that company's do not
call list. Note the name of the person you spoke with, the organization, and the
date of the call. The Federal Communications Commission requires telemarketers
(except tax-exempt nonprofit organizations) to maintain a record of your request
not to receive future telephone calls. The record must be maintained for 10 years.
If you get another call from the same person or organization, report the date and
source to the FCC.
Consider screening any calls that are still slipping through by using an answering
machine. You can listen to the caller and decide whether you want to pick up. Your
local telephone company may also offer services (such as Caller I.D.) that allow you
to see the name and number of the person calling you.
Some states have their own do not call lists for residents. Contact your state
consumer protection office to find out if your state has such a list and how you
can be added.
| New Rules For Junk Faxes
The Federal Communications Commission has recently modified its provision
against junk faxes. Most unsolicited advertisements faxed to you without your
prior written permission are still prohibited. However, organizations that
have an established business relationship with you may send you unsolicited
faxes. Any unsolicited fax must contain an opt-out option on the first page.
Companies must comply with your opt-out wishes within 30 days
For more information about junk faxes, visit the
FTC website
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