Why isn't the no call list working anymore?

April 18, 2007 2:46 PM

What happened to the "no call" list?

I'm getting a lot of marketing calls again, that are clearly commercial entities using cold lists (i.e. from businesses I've never purchased anything from, using odd variations on my name, so they clearly didn't get it from me.) This is not not for profits and political campaigns. These are the old-fashioned, get to you at dinner time, obnoxious calls.

I checked the gummint web site and my phone number is on the no call list. So why is this happening again?

posted by nax to Society & Culture (11 answers total)

From what I understand, the do not call list does not apply to political entities and any companies that you have done business with. I still get loads of cold calls, too, so I don't know what is going on. There are probably oodles of loopholes in the law. Maybe any subsidiaries or companies in partnership with the companies with whom you have done business are also allowed to call.
posted by HotPatatta at 3:03 PM on April 18, 2007

I am having the same problem at the office-- the same recording from a mortgage broker (Dorothy from the mortgage branch) keeps calling all our direct numbers repeatedly (5-6 times in a row) even though all the numbers are on the do not call list.

'She' called so frequently that I was able to finally get down all the information from the caller ID in order to make a complaint with the Do Not Call Registry. When you file a complaint, you get this response:

Do not call complaints will be entered into a secure online database available to civil and criminal law enforcement agencies. While the FTC does not resolve individual consumer problems, your complaint will help the agency investigate the company, and could lead to law enforcement action.

Which is pretty weak language IMHO. Maybe all the telemarketers have figured out that nothing will really happen to them if they call people on the list?
posted by paddingtonb at 3:04 PM on April 18, 2007

Don't you have to renew every few years?

*opens google tab*

See number 15. Did you sign up 5 years ago?
posted by niles at 3:06 PM on April 18, 2007

If they're outside the US, that "do not call" list won't apply. Same goes for the UK's TPS. Or what jamaro said.

and any companies that you have done business with.

If you volunteered your information to a company that you don't want to contact you after you've finished your mutually consented business, you're screwing yourself into the ground, especially if they sell their lists to other companies. Remember that when you give your phone number or your address to any company, even if they claim they need to contact you for delivery, that there is a great chance they will reuse this information in the future.
posted by saturnine at 3:44 PM on April 18, 2007

niles, from your link:

"Q: Can I register my cell phone on the National Do Not Call Registry?

A: Yes, you may place your personal cell phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry. The registry has accepted cell phone numbers since it opened for registrations in June 2003 ..."

So all registrations should still be good, since the registry opened less than four years ago.

I've been wondering about this myself -- I've noticed a significant uptick in telemarketing calls to both my home and cell phone. It would be nice to know how to make them stop!
posted by harkin banks at 3:44 PM on April 18, 2007

Maybe they are doing something known as "breaking the law".
posted by DU at 4:03 PM on April 18, 2007

When I recently moved, I dropped my land line. No more charity calls.
posted by trinity8-director at 5:13 PM on April 18, 2007

I had the same problem and found my number was no longer on the Do Not Call list (no reason given why it came off of course) so I went through the whole registration thing again but you have to wait 30 days until it goes into effect. I always use the "Take my number off your list" line and most times they are quite polite about it, but not always.

Here's a nice write-up on a guy that makes money by taking telemarketers to small claims court.
posted by 543DoublePlay at 5:21 PM on April 18, 2007

If you're in Texas, sign up for their list; they have a little more in the way of enforcement.
posted by Doohickie at 9:57 PM on April 18, 2007

Like 543DoublePlay, I also found that our numbers had been removed from the DNC list for no reason. I added us back and the number of calls dropped again pretty quickly. But I would really like to know wtf is going on that numbers are being removed. I even asked about it on Ask MeFi.
posted by litlnemo at 2:48 AM on April 19, 2007

"The Mortgage branch" is also illegally calling me, and everyone in my office once a week, using an automated recording. We all have 2 lines, so we each get called twice.

Argh!!!!
posted by Four Flavors at 10:49 AM on April 19, 2007