"Do Not Call" List Could Become Permanent

Thu Sep 13, 2007 12:31PM EDT

See Comments (94)

You know and love the Do Not Call list. It may not be perfect, and it seems powerless to stop the automated calls I get from some company promising a great price on cleaning my carpets (and they'll clean the hallway for free!!!), but it's the best thing we have for getting rid of telemarketing nuisance.

The catch with Do Not Call (and it's a small one) is that your registration expires after five years. For the millions of people who signed up when it was rolled out in June 2003, that means their phone numbers (to the tune of 50 million of them) will abruptly be taken off the list in June 2008, without warning. You can, of course, re-register, but I expect many will have long since forgotten that they need to do so.

Good news: A bill introduced in the House on Monday would make Do Not Call entries permanent, eliminating the need to re-register phone numbers. Why is permanence a good thing? Best quote, courtesy of bill sponsor Mike Doyle: "I suspect very few people are saying, 'Gee, I really miss getting those telemarketing calls at dinner time – I wish the government would take me off the do not call list.'"

More news as it develops, but overall it sounds like legislation I can really get behind. To find out when your Do Not Call entry expires, visit the Verify section of the DNC website. To renew your registration (and there's no reason not to do so), visit the Register page. Assuming the bill doesn't make it into law in a timely fashion, make sure you do so before your five years runs out!

LINK: Bill Would Make 'Do Not Call' List Permanent 

Comments on "Do Not Call" List Could Become Permanent

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  • 27 Posted by thankafarmer4food on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:02PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'd like to have the do not call list extended to political campaigns. Geez, it gets tiresome!

  • 28 Posted by imedic82003 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    So far the Do Not Call List is bogus. I am still getting "unknown" callers on my ID that turn out to be solicitors even though I put my phones on the list from the 1st day available. Also, I keep filing complaints on these numbers and nothing is done about it. I believe I was told these people are to be contacted and fined if they keep calling. I am never notified that any action was even taken. What a government rip off and lie.

  • 29 Posted by clhorn8179 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:26PM EDT Report Abuse

    I never get called by telemarketers. You know why b/c I have Vonage. I will never go back to a traditional phone line.

  • 30 Posted by judynastasi1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    I registered two of my phones and have not heard anything back. How long must I wait?

  • 31 Posted by iddygahma on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:22PM EDT Report Abuse

    what the heck.I am on the list and still get 5-8 call's a day. and when I call back to tell them don't call me you can't get number that show's up.

  • 32 Posted by deepdivedan on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    Please make the do not call list permanent and include political campaigners

  • 33 Posted by wolftongue on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    It's extremely annoying and I tell them that I will slap them with a lawsuit if they continue to harrass me.

  • 34 Posted by thomas_schulte60 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    I havr a unlisted number, how do i ghet them to stop callinbg me.My number in on the do not call list and I still get the anoying phone call. I though this do not call list is suppose to work, than why is it not working.

  • 35 Posted by malihinimae on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:04PM EDT Report Abuse

    Ah, no big deal. The world is going to end in 2012 anyway.

  • 36 Posted by dottyp4 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    I would like to be on the do not call list permanent. I don't want to get phone calls trying to sell things that I don't want.

  • 37 Posted by yhmpgs on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    Too many telemarketing companies have got around this but using recordings to call you. We are called every other day about getting a warantee on our old car! If the instructions tell you to press 1 for information.....another recording! All we want is to make them stop calling! Also, I know a person who worked for a company where the boss told her to ignore the do not call list. Yes, she quit that job!

  • 38 Posted by pturner1978 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:21PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am on the do not call list and still receive calls

  • 39 Posted by kjbrier123 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:52PM EDT Report Abuse

    It didn't take the government very long to come up with a somewhat effective method of eliminating telemarketers and some of the competition for junk mail. Why are they not moving to eleminate mail marketers as well. They are just as annoying. Is it because the wrong people are making money from telemarketing (NOT the government) and the right people are making money from junk mail.

  • 40 Posted by daniellerogero on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:35PM EDT Report Abuse

    Isn't there another "catch"? First of all, I have heard that any company that already has business with you in one aspect can call and harass you for additional reasons/services. Also, I get a lot of calls from the local police and fire department "Funds". Are they exempt, because they are annoying (and I am not even sure how they actually benefit the police and fire personnel- I choose to donate to the CFC @ work)!

  • 41 Posted by jbully314 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:30PM EDT Report Abuse

    commorancy: Just take their envelope that they are paying postage on, put their terms and conditions or some other junk inside (just make sure it doesn't have your name anywhere) and mail it back to them on their dime. They get charged by the post office by the piece (the bar code on the bottom gets scanned and they get charged.) If enough people start to do this, it will cost the junk mailers a lot of money.

  • 42 Posted by atlantisgreyqueen on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    Wow!!! I love it! I am so tired of those telemarketers, I could scream and the people behind it. That is the best news that I have heard in a long time! Thank you.

  • 43 Posted by abbie_clymer on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    I would like to know if there is a thing called collection harrasment, how mant times are the bill collectors allowed to call once you have spoken to them, they are just as bad as the telemarketing calls and are more frequent.

  • 44 Posted by daylightps on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    The government Do Not Call list is a sham. I registered our phone number, and the result has been a sharp INCREASE in unwanted calls. For 20 years before that, I used the Direct Marketing Association (I think) mail-in card and it worked quite well. I believe there is something underhanded going on with this list.

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