reminder

[DrTran]

Directly from the Federal Trade Commission:

The Federal Trade Commission today reiterated that despite the claims made in e-mails circulating on the Internet, consumers should not be concerned that their cell phone numbers will be released to telemarketers in the near future, and that it is not necessary to register cell phone numbers on the National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry to be protected from most telemarketing calls to cell phones.



The truth about cell phones and the DNC Registry is:



* Contrary to the e-mail, cell phone numbers are NOT being released to telemarketers, and you will NOT soon be getting telemarketing calls on your cell phone.
* There is NO deadline by which you must register your cell phone number on the Registry.
* Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations prohibit telemarketers from using automated dialers to call cell phone numbers. Automated dialers are standard in the industry, so most telemarketers are barred from calling consumers on their cell phones without their consent.
* The national associations representing telemarketers have stated that their clients do not intend to start calling consumers’ cell phones.
* There is only ONE DNC Registry. There is no separate registry for cell phones.
* The DNC Registry accepts registrations from both cell phones and land lines. You must call from the phone number that you want to register. If you register online, you must respond to a confirmation e-mail.
* While the telecommunications industry has been discussing the possibility of creating a wireless 411 directory, according to the FCC, even if a wireless 411 directory is established, most telemarketing calls to cell phones would still be illegal, regardless of whether the number is listed on the federal government’s National Do Not Call Registry.



In addition, according to the industry:



* Your number would not be included in a wireless 411 directory unless you wanted it to be (i.e., you will have to “opt-in”); and
* The wireless 411 directory would not be available in a printed, electronic, or Internet list for telemarketers. In other words, a list of numbers on the wireless 411 directory would not be made available to telemarketers.

[loka]

I am very aware of that message that was post marked 4 years ago when they should have mentioned cell phones were not going to be public prior to introduction of the list in 2003. However, like Panda mentioned, companies have been selling information, and it just so happens they can and will sell your cell phone number. I've never gotten any 800 number calls from my house phone since we got on the list. I'm blocking my cell phone number because of the recent bullshit getting these calls, and it's post harassment IMO.

[DrTran]

If you're taking it as harassment, sorry; I'm not intending it that way. I posted that to show that most cell phone numbers are safe; even if you don't post your number on the list.

The Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, and the states are enforcing the National Do Not Call Registry. Placing your number on the registry will stop most, but not all, telemarketing calls.

From Verizon:

You should be aware that even if you add your number(s) to the federal or a state Do Not Call list, most telemarketing laws allow companies to contact their own customers.

Most phone companies allow you to get off this list too but you have to contact them from a different number (see your phone provider website to find it).

[walterbrunswick]

Reminds me of our senior year Scottish high school teacher ... when telemarketers would call his house he'd start speaking jibberish Chinese to them lol

Funniest high school teacher EVER!

[maynard]

... when telemarketers would call his house he'd start speaking jibberish Chinese to them lol

Funniest high school teacher EVER!

Lol... Nice...

any 1 know if this applies 2 Canada as well?