When the national Do Not Call Registry began in 2003, the idea was simple: give consumers some relief from being harassed by telemarketers if they didn’t want to be called. Since then, hundreds of millions of phone numbers have been added to the registry, with 223 million active numbers on the list as of September, 2013. In a report to Congress a few weeks ago, the Federal Trade Commission noted that approximately 200,000 complaints per month were being recorded at the end of 2012, and more than a quarter of those were being submitted over mobile devices.
Mississippi launched its own version of the Do Not Call registry at about the same time, and the office of Central District Public Service Commissioner Lynn Posey told me this week that 264,820 Mississippians had registered their numbers with the service as of the end of November.
The list can be effective in stopping calls because it has teeth. Violations can be costly to companies, with a $16,000 penalty for each violation of the national list (multiple violations can occur involving the same phone number). Earlier this year, a veterans home-loan refinance company called Mortgage Investors paid the highest civil penalty to date for violating the Do Not Call law: $7. 5 million.The company was accused of calling consumers on the registry, failing to remove registered numbers from its call lists when told to do so and misleading customers about loan terms. Mississippi has also slapped several companies with hefty fines for violations, such as a Florida security company which paid $420,000 back in June.
Adding your number to the registry is a good idea, and should stop unwanted calls once it takes effect (expect that to happen in about four weeks after you register.) But it’s also important to note a few caveats:
- Don’t expect immediate results. Once you put your number on the list, companies wishing to do phone solicitations must purchase the list, then incorporate it into their systems. It can take a while (the law allows up to 31 days), but the calls should start diminishing in a couple of weeks.
- Business numbers should not be added to either list (it’s only for residential numbers.)
- Cell phone numbers may be added to the national list, but not the Mississippi list.
- Companies with which you have an established relationship may continue to call you, unless you request otherwise. Even if you established a business relationship (such as by purchasing a product), then placed your number on the registry, the company may continue to call you for up to 18 months unless you tell them not to. In that case, they must comply with your wishes.
- You can give a company written permission to call you, if you don’t mind them doing so. Just send them a letter and request it.
- Nonprofit, political and survey organizations may call you. However, if the call comes from a third-party fundraiser, you can request that they not call you again on behalf of that particular charity.
- If registering by phone, you must call from the number you want to register. But you can register up to three numbers using the online registry process.
- Finally, remember the registry is not a panacea. Of course, it won’t do anything for consumers if the companies are engaged in fraud; they aren’t going to care about the law anyway. This is one of the biggest frustrations, and since some of these calls from from outside the U.S., they are difficult to stop.
To register for the federal list, visit their website, or call (888) 382-1222.
For the Mississippi list, go to their website, or call (866) 622-5567, or by mail.
(This was originally posted in the Clarion-Ledger on 1/1/2014.)
Ramblings and Rubble 