Let’s face it, telemarketing calls can be annoying. One way the Federal Trade Commission protects your rights is by putting you in charge of how many of these calls you get at home. Through its Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR), it has established the National Do Not Call Registry to make it simpler and more efficient for consumers to reduce the number of unwanted sales calls they receive on their home or cell phones. This registry has been enforced since October 1, 2003.
Here’s what you need to know:
- The law requires that telemarketers check the Do Not Call Registry every 31 days and avoid calling any numbers on the list. The only identifying information that will be made available to telemarketers is the phone number that you wish to opt out.
- To register your phone number for free, visit donotcall.gov or call (888) 382-1222 (toll-free). If you are calling by phone, you must call from the number you wish to register. If you register online, you must provide an email address for confirmation.
- After registration, you should notice a decrease in the amount of calls you receive within 31 days of registration. If you are still receiving calls after your number has been registered for 31 days, you can file a complaint online at donotcall.gov or at (888) 382-1222. Telemarketers who disregard the National Do Not Call Registry could face fines of up to $16,000 per call.
- Adding your number to the registry will stop most telemarketing calls, but not all. Calls from telephone surveyors, charities, and political organizations are still permitted. Furthermore, organizations you have done business with within the last 18 months are still allowed to call you. Businesses to which you have made inquiries can still call you for up to three months.
The Telemarketing Sales Rule also sets forth the following standards of conduct for telemarketing calls:
- Calls can only be made between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 9 P.M.
- The caller must promptly identify who they are with and the purpose of their call
- The caller must disclose all information about the services or goods they are offering and the terms of the sale. They cannot lie about any of the terms of their offer.
For more information on the Telemarketing Sales Rule, visit the Federal Trade Commission online.
If you believe you are a victim of telemarketer abuse, we invite you to tell us about it. Report telemarketing abuse to a Chicago consumer lawyer at Atlas Consumer Law We can assist you by investigating the spammers and potentially helping you obtain between $500 to $1,500 per unwanted call in compensation.
Learn more when you call our office at (312) 313-1613.