Signing up for the National Do Not Call Registry helps reduce the number of unwanted sales calls you receive at home or on your mobile phone. Unfortunately, there is chance you’ll still get hit with annoying calls. Why is that? In this blog we’ll talk about the Do Not Call Registry and explore some of the frequently asked questions people have about the service.
1. How Do I Sign Up for the National Do Not Call Registry?
Simply go to https://www.donotcall.gov/ or call 1-888-382-1222 and register your home or mobile phone for free. If you register online, you will receive a confirmation email; click on the link to complete your registration.
2. How Long Does It Take to Work?
After registering your number, it shows up on Do Not Call the next day. Most calls should stop once your number has been on the registry for over 30 days.
3. Will All Unwanted Calls Stop?
No. The Do Not Call Registry only stops sales calls. You will still receive calls from political parties, charities, debt collectors, and survey companies. However, if you’ve recently done business with a sales company, they may still have permission to call you, although you can ask them to stop and they must honor your request.
4. I’m Still Getting Calls, How Can I Make it Stop?
If you’re still getting unwanted sales calls, simply hang up the phone. Do not interact with them or press any buttons, as this will lead to more calls. Instead, investigate whether you can block these calls. If you’re getting calls from different numbers, which is a popular tactic, look into a call blocking solution.
5. Why Are They Calling Me?
Your number is on the Do Not Call Registry, so why do they keep calling? While legitimate companies adhere to the Do Not Call rules, scammers do not, and most of the calls you get are from scammers. They use modern technology to make masked calls from anywhere in the world, making it hard to trace them.
6. Does Reporting Their Number to the FTC Do Anything?
Scammers fake or “spoof” caller ID information, so the number you report may not be a real number. It’s difficult to track these numbers without more information.
7. What Is the FTC Doing About It?
To date, the FTC has sued hundreds of companies and individuals for placing unwanted calls. In addition, the FTC is developing technology-based solutions to block robocalls and help investigators track down and stop scammers.
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) regulates the phone calls that telemarketers and other solicitors make to you. If you have been subjected to the nuisance of unwanted sales calls and are on the Do Not Call Registry, Atlas Consumer Law can help you seek damages.
Call (312) 313-1613 or contact us online to speak with one of our Chicago consumer lawyers.