Since we work at home, we obviously spend a lot of time there. And so, when in the last few days, our phone started ringing more than usual, we figured it was because the Do Not Call List had expired. We were surprised to learn that we shouldn't be plagued with calls just yet. Darned telemarketers.
In any case, since we signed up when it first started, our listing expires in June, so we'll need to sign up again. More information on how to re-register is here.
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Comments (6)
No doubt one of the greatest things taxpayer money was spent on, the Do Not Call List!
However, I don't think you're correct: "the list will expire in a few months." The site registers your number for 5 years. You can verify whether you are registered on the site and you will receive an email telling you when your own listing expires.
Charlotte is right -- a given registration lasts for five years.
https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=3633254
The government's discussing changing the terms because there are people who want to make registration permanent, no five-year re-up.
The earliest people to register will have their listings expire in June 2008.
I registered for the list as soon as it was available, and recently renewed my registration. Recently, I've been getting recorded telemarketing calls -- sometimes it's a stock pitch. Since Caller ID is blocked, there's no one to complain to, and no way to report it to the FTC. The other type of recorded call I'm getting is a pitch for an unnamed credit card, and the recording instructs me to "press 1" if I'm interested in learning more. The first time, I politely explained the concept of the Do Not Call Registry to the representative who answered. She had never heard of it. The second time, I asked the rep what company he was representing, and he hung up on me.
Re-worded the post -- hope it's clearer...
I get those, too, Julie. So aggravating. (As are the calls from the non-profits that don't have to abide by the list.)
For those getting telemarketer or other unwanted calls, even despite being on Do Not Call lists, a service I might suggest would be the Privacy Manager feature available from most phone services. [No, I don't work for a phone company and generally am not a fan of paying extra fees to them. However, I have had this type of service for 3-4 years now and LOVE the benefits.]
Here's a brief description from the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse:
Most local phone companies offer a relatively new service called Privacy Manager. It works with Caller ID to identify incoming calls that have no telephone numbers given. Calls identified as "anonymous," unavailable," out of area" or "private" must identify themselves in order to complete the call. Before your phone rings, a recorded message instructs the caller to unblock the call, enter a code number (like the inbound call blocking devices mentioned above), or record their name. When your phone rings, you can choose to accept or reject the call, send it to voice mail, or send a special message to telemarketers instructing them to put you on their "do not call" list.
You do NOT have to use the phone company's voicemail with this service, if you have an answering machine and you're not home to take the call, it just rings through a second time after the caller has identified him/herself and records the message to your machine like normal.
It's really not much of an inconvenience to callers (and I have been through a couple of job searches and running some client projects with this service in place). A couple of times a business caller had their callerID blocked but went through the quick sequence, when I briefly explained what it was, most understood and thought it was a great idea (and no one expressed annoyance).
[Oh, one suggestion: if you have parents that may not be techno-savvy (or patient with technology or messages), explain it to them upfront and assure them that they'll get through. My parents live in an area in CT that apparently automatically blocks outgoing numbers as the default (my parents didn't request the feature and are oblivious to the entire Caller ID concept). My mother (whom I speak to nearly weekly) thought I had intentionally blocked her call specifically (she didn't bother fully listening to the prompt).]
Anyway, I'm a fan of the service and recommend it, particularly as a couple of voting periods are approaching. (Before that triggers a flamewar, I worked on political campaigns and encourage participation; but almost nobody wants to be interrupted at dinner or on the weekend by phone scripts)
Sorry about the extended bold above, miscoded what should have only emphasized the phrase Privacy Manager