Placing one's number on the National Do Not Call Registry will stop most, but not all, telemarketing calls.
Only telemarketing calls are covered — that is, calls that solicit sales of goods or services. Callers purporting to take a survey, but also offering to sell goods or services, must comply with the National Do Not Call Registry. An example of an operation attempting to skirt this rule is the Dove Foundation which places "survey" calls and then requests permission for a follow-up call, which attempts to sell goods through a for-profit company. This operation resulted in a restraining order in Missouri in March 2006, but the operation continues in other states.
Even if one puts his number on the National Do Not Call Registry, a company with which the person has an established business relationship may call for up to 18 months after his/her last purchase or delivery from it, or last payment to it, unless the party specifically asks the company not to call again. (In that case, the company must honor the request not to call. If they subsequently call, they may be subject to a fine of up to $11,000 USD.) Also, if one makes an inquiry to a company or submits an application to it, for three months afterwards, the company can call. If one makes a specific request to that company not to call them, however, then the company may not call, even if you have an established business relationship with that company.
If one does not want to put a number on the national registry, they can still prohibit individual telemarketers, one by one, from calling by asking the telemarketer to put them on their company’s do-not-call list.
Despite a spate of emails warning to the contrary, cell phone numbers need not be included on the National Do Not Call Registry to avoid unsolicited calls. FCC regulations already in place prohibit telemarketers from calling a cellular phone number with an automatic dialer. Experts tell media sources that the false email turned urban legend probably started because cellular companies are developing wireless directories. However, cell numbers will not be included in the list unless consent is given.
Also not covered by this law are bill collectors (either primary creditors or collection agencies.). These callers are, however, regulated by other laws, such as those limiting them to calling during "reasonable hours." The right to not be pestered by creditors is only protected for debtors who file for bankruptcy protection.
Additional help for locating who is calling from mystery numbers:
Telemarketers, Collection Agencies and Other unknown numbers:
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123-770-0000 123-643-5156 123-456-4066 123-482-3144 123-345-7050 123-473-0870 123-459-7890 123-345-7890 123-245-7891 123-456-7891 123-742-1875 123-999-3159 123-541-6792 123-122-4203
123-453-4570 123-456-4045 123-456-4137 123-456-5938 123-682-4417 123-456-4017 123-123-1234 123-679-7400 123-886-2158 123-581-3213 123-456-4016 123-181-9999 123-173-2222 123-121-1212
123-456-7801 123-804-2644 123-480-6228 123-392-2600 123-456-7898 123-345-6789 123-552-1024 123-456-4236 123-456-4212 123-474-8274 123-956-5417 123-737-8282 123-456-4038 123-456-7899
123-217-1484 123-456-5959 123-555-4222 123-456-4076 123-456-5614 123-456-7893 123-544-3950 123-435-4453 123-802-0226 123-941-5440 123-968-7981 123-746-8016 123-654-0987 123-363-3344
123-225-8744 123-456-3710 123-697-3487 123-568-3381 123-123-4567 123-123-1233 123-654-7654 123-421-5826 123-483-8295 123-577-3769 123-456-7821 123-899-2488 123-554-4071 123-732-2036
123-756-7890 123-456-7892 123-456-5591 123-923-3591 123-123-1231 123-456-4095 123-456-4093 123-755-8921 123-457-7890 123-555-0000 123-821-4985 123-434-3434 123-465-7890 123-456-5930
123-456-4060 123-214-5163 123-772-5555 123-737-6065 123-445-5825 123-363-5105 123-544-3166 123-173-2224 123-550-0095 123-456-7890
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