Do Not Call

One of the most frustrating things for consumers is receiving unwanted phone calls. Click on the topics below to find more information to help you understand the world of robocalls and how to protect yourself.

Topics of Interest - Do Not Call 5

What is the Do Not Call Registry?

  • The purpose of the Do Not Call Registry is to offer you a choice whether or not you will receive phone calls from telemarketers. There is only one Do Not Call Registry. The Do Not Call Registry is offered as a protection to consumers by the Federal Trade Commission.
  • The Do Not Call Registry creates certain rules that telemarketers must follow. For example:
    • Telemarketers are required to search the registry every 31 days. They are not allowed to call any phone number on the registry.
    • A telemarketer who disregards the National Do Not Call Registry could be fined up to $40,000 for each call.
    • The Do Not Call Registry does NOT prevent charities, political groups, debt collectors, and surveys from calling you.

How do I register for the Do Not Call Registry?

  • You can register your home or mobile phone number for free online here or by calling (toll-free) 1-888-382-1222 from the number you wish to register.
  • When you register, your number should appear on the registry the next day. If you completed your registration online, you should receive a confirmation email from donotcall.gov. You must click on the link in your email to confirm your registry. Otherwise, your registration will be incomplete and you will still receive unwanted sales calls.
  • Your phone number must be on the registry for 31 days before you will stop receiving sales calls. If you receive telemarketing calls after your telephone number has been in the registry for 31 days, you can file a complaint here or by calling toll-free 1-888-382-1222.
    • You need to know the date of the call and the company’s name or phone number to file a complaint.

How do I prevent unwanted calls?

  • If you are on the Do Not Call Registry and unwanted calls continue, you should not interact in any way. If you are instructed to dial a prompt to prevent future calls, it is much more likely you will increase the number of calls you receive.
  • Robocalls:
    • You may receive calls from an illegal Robocall. Robocalls come from automated machines, not a live person, making a sales pitch.
    • These calls are illegal and often scams.
    • Do not press buttons or allow a call transfer to a live person to stop future calls either. This will also increase the number of calls you may receive.
    • These calls often come from a fake phone number that has “spoofed” the caller ID. The number will often be from a familiar area code and callers will use many different phone numbers.
    • The FTC is working to prevent these types of calls and has sued hundreds of companies and individuals so far.
    • You should still report the number you received a Robocall from, even though the fake caller ID helps the callers avoid law enforcement. The FTC can still work to prevent future calls by identifying call patterns and using complaint data.

Why do I still get calls after signing up for the Do Not Call Registry?

If you signed up for the Do Not Call registry and are still getting unwanted calls, most likely many of those calls are from scammers.

  • Check out the FTC’s article on blocking unwanted calls to learn more about what you can do — including reporting them here.
  • Please note that calls to numbers on the registry are allowed from political organizations, charities, and telephone surveyors.