The National Do Not Call list
If you’re like most people, you could do without a few of those dinner-time
telemarketing calls that always seem to catch you just as you’re settling in to
eat or see Alex Trebek reveal the question categories for Double Jeopardy. On
the other hand, if yours is a business that sells to consumers and relies on
those calls to generate leads and make sales, making a living just got a little
tougher.
Beginning October 1st, 2003 the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has operated
the National Do Not Call Registry. This service, which is free to U.S.
residents, permits non-commercial telephone subscribers to add their phone
numbers to a government-maintained list of numbers which telemarketers are
prohibited from calling. This list is provided to all telemarketing operators,
who are expected to honor subscribers’ requests for privacy.
Adding your name to the list does not mean that all calls will stop, however.
You may continue to receive calls from political organizations, charities,
telephone surveyors, or telemarketers calling to solicit charitable
contributions. The legislation that created the list also permits businesses
with whom you have an existing relationship to continue to call on you. Under
the terms of the legislation, and “existing relationship” is defined as having
transacted with you during the past 18 months.
In addition, a company with which you have not done business may call you for
up to three months after you make an inquiry or submit an application of any
kind. If you specifically request to be removed from that company’s call list,
however, then the company may no longer call you, even if three months have not
elapsed.
The regulation has some teeth. If you make a request to a specific
organization that they not call you, they are required to honor your request. If
they call you again, they may be subject to fines of up to $11,000.
The National Do Not Call Registry is not an all or nothing proposition for
consumers. If there are some calls that they still wish to receive, telephone
subscribers that choose to add their name to the list may still permit
individual companies to call them. To do this, they will need to provide each
permitted company with written permission. Alternatively, consumers may elect
not to go on the list, but prohibit individual telemarketers from calling by
asking to be put on that company’s do not call list.
To register or to find out more about the list, visit the
National Do Not Call Registry
web site. You may also call the Federal Trade Commission at 1 888 382 1222.
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