Time to renew at ‘Do Not Call Registry’

Nobody enjoys racing through the house to answer the phone, only to find a telemarketer on the other end of the line. In order to prevent this, Assemblymember Audrey Pheffer is alerting residents that their entry on the “Do Not Call Registry” might be expiring soon.
“With the introduction of the Do-Not-Call Registry, consumers across New York were finally able to rid themselves of unwanted telemarketing calls. It is important that we keep these consumers on the list so that they are not bombarded with telemarketing calls,” Pheffer said.
The Federal Trade Commission created the Do Not Call Registry in 2003 to combat phone solicitation. Telemarketers are prohibited from calling people registered in the database.
Unfortunately, registration on the Do Not Call Registry is not permanent. Names begin to expire from the list after five years. In early 2008, many of the names on the list will expire, without any warning from the FTC.
While New York senator Charles Schumer has announced legislation which would prevent numbers from expiring, such a law is not yet in place.
In a 2005 Harris Poll, 78 percent of those polled reported that they received far fewer phone calls, or none at all. Under the registry regulations, companies are not allowed to contact anyone in the registry after they have been registered for 31 days; before the 31 days have passed, customers may still receive phone calls.
Not all unsolicited calls are excluded by the registry. Phone calls from charity groups and political organizations and telephone surveyors are not prevented through the registry. Also, any company which a person has done business with in the past is excluded. The registry allows companies to make phone calls following a consumer’s purchase or up to three months after an inquiry, according to the Do Not Call web site.
“I advise New Yorkers currently on the list to check the status of their phone numbers on the Do Not Call Registry and to verify the expiration date of the number,” said Pheffer in statement.
To check your registration or add yourself to the registry, call 1-888-382-1222 or register online at www.donotcall.gov.