Creative Consumer: Avoiding the Dreaded Telemarketer

Nov. 12, 2007 — -- The Federal Trade Commission has penalized six companies a total of $7.7 million for calling people whose numbers are listed in the National Do Not Call registry.

The FTC says one company got consumers' phone numbers by enticing them to enter a sweepstakes and telling them their phone number was their entry number. Another called people it did not have an existing business relationship with. A third failed to transmit the required caller ID information.

Good to know the feds are looking out for your dinner hour. But you'd be surprised how many telemarketers are still allowed to call you even if you've signed up for the registry. How dare they and who are they?

It's still possible to eliminate future calls, even from these exempt groups. Many consumers make the mistake of shrieking "take me off your list," when a telemarketer interrupts them in the middle of dinner. Wrong. That request has no legal teeth.

Instead, ask to be put on their list: their do-not-call list.

In addition to honoring the national registry, telemarketers are required to keep their own list of people who have asked not to be contacted. If they call you again after you have made this request, you can sue them and collect compensation. The company could also face government fines of $10,000 or more. Keep in mind, big companies have multiple divisions. For example, if you tell the long distance department not to call you anymore, you may still receive cold calls from the cellular division.

If you are not one of the 145 million people who have listed a number on the National Do Not Call Registry, time to stop procrastinating. Just go to www.donotcall.gov

You can also call (888) 382-1222 from the number you wish to register. It takes about a month for telemarketers to start honoring your request. The legislation that created the Do Not Call registry is set to expire, but the FTC has decided it will continue to require companies to honor your request while Congress works to renew that law.