The Do Not Call List Registry

The National Do Not Call Registry gives you an opportunity to limit the telemarketing calls you receive. Once you register your phone number, telemarketers covered by the National Do Not Call Registry have up to 31 days (starting January 1, 2005) from the date you register to stop calling you.

The National Do Not Call Registry is managed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency. It is enforced by the FTC, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and state law enforcement officials.

When a telemarketer violates the law by calling somebody on the Do Not Call registry, they may be subject to very large fines. Often, however, their call is a genuine mistake. They don't want to call people on that list, because of the large fines that they can pay. Realize that there are millions of names in the registry, and occasionally some slip through the telemarketer's list. Kindly ask the telemarketer to take you off of their list, and explain that you are in the Do Not Call registry. The telemarketer will likely not be calling back again.

There are some businesses or organizations that can still telemarket to you even though you may be on the DNC list. Businesses that you have a relationship with such as your credit card company or your cable company are a couple examples of companies that can legally contact you.

Keep in mind that your registration is valid for 5 years. At the end of that time you will need to reregister your number, so you may want to plan accordingly.

Not only can you add your home telephone number to the do not call registry but you can also add your cell phone numbers as well.

» DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this article on 'The Do Not Call List Registry' is a collection of contributions by licensed mortgage professionals and is not the opinion of Broker Outpost LLC. Always consult a licensed professional before applying for a mortgage.