If you have received an e-mail telling you that your cell phone is about to be bombarded by telemarketing calls because of a new cell phone number database, be aware the warning is untrue.
Federal law prohibits telemarketers from using automated dialers to call cell phones.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advises that you may put your personal cell phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry, but there is generally not a reason to do so.
Registering your cell phone is unnecessary and a very bad idea. Cell phone numbers are unpublished. If you provide your cell phone number to the national do not call list, suddenly, it becomes a published number. The lists of numbers must be purchased by telemarketers so they can comply with the do not call registry. It would be extremely easy for unscrupulous entities and foreign, international entities to get their hands on the numbers. Your best bet is to avoid registering your cell phone.
Here is more information from an FTC news release, Despite Re-Circulating E-mail, It is Still Not Necessary to Register Cell Phone Numbers.
There have been numerous stories on the Internet and in newspapers all across the country for several weeks stating that the federal Do Not Call list is set to expire.
Hold the phone.
The FTC has announced that it will not allow registrations on the list to expire next year, at the time of the list’s five-year anniversary. The law that created the Do Not Call list originally called for registrations to last only five years. After that, consumers would have to re-register to continue the prohibition on unwanted sales calls.
Legislation has been introduced at the federal level that would make registration on the federal Do Not cal List permanent. It is uncertain if a new law will be approved and signed into law before millions of registrations would expire in June 2008.
Thankfully, the FTC has thought of a better solution. For now, registrations will not expire as long as new federal legislation is being considered.
Lydia Parnes, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, testified before the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.
“The commission now commits that it will not drop any telephone numbers from the registry based on the five-year expiration period pending final congressional or agency action on whether to make registration permanent,” Parnes said.
To say that the federal DO Not Call list is popular is an understatement. Since its inception in 2003, 149 million phone numbers have been registered on the list. Humorist Dave Barry said the list is "the most popular federal concept since the Elvis stamp."
According to MSN.com:
• 10 million phone numbers were registered within four days of the list's opening on June 27, 2003.
• 30 million numbers were signed up within 40 days.
• 63 million were registered in the list's first year.
Despite the huge list of registrants who wish not to be bothered by annoying phone calls, some telemarketers have attempted to ignore the law. The FTC has brought more than two dozen enforcement actions against various companies and the Federal Communications Commission has issued dozens of citations regarding violations.
There are exceptions to the list:
• Charities.
• Politicians.
• Survey takers.
• Companies that have a prior business relationship with you.
Even with the slight imperfections, the federal Do Not Call list has resulted in a big reduction in interruptions at dinnertime.
People may register their home phone numbers at the National Do Not Call Registry or by calling 1-888-382-1222. After a person registers, the phone number will show up on the registry by the next day. Telemarketers then have up to 31 days to get that phone number and remove it from their call lists.
Again, you do not have to register your cell phone number(s) and are advised not to.
