US National Do Not Call Registry FAQs

The US Do Not Call List is officially called the National Do-Not-Call Registry. This is a method by tool by which telemarketers are prohibited from making unsolicited calls to US consumers. This was supposed to be implemented in 2003, however, due to a legal challenge, it was implemented the following year.

This was created by the Federal Trade Commission as part of the Do-Not-Call Implementation Act of 2003, which was sponsored by the Representatives John Dingel and Billy Tauzin. On March 11, 2003, this was signed into a law by then President George W. Bush. This was also done to increase the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 compliance.

What type of numbers are allowed to be registered in the do-not-call list?

All residential numbers may register to the do-not-call list. Cellular phone owners do not need to include their numbers in the registry because there is already an FCC regulation that prevents telemarketing calls to cellular phones. It is also not necessary for fax numbers to be registered since there is also an existing regulation that prevents unsolicited faxes. This registry does not include business lines.

How does someone register a number to the do-not-call list?

From the number that the consumer wants to register, he or she should call 1-888-382-1222. Since 2005, once a number has been registered to the list, the telemarketer has up to 31 days to stop calling the number.

How long does a number stay registered in the do-not-call registry?

Before February 2008, numbers only stay on the registry for a period of five years. But after the Do-Not-Call Improvement Act of 2007 was implemented, once a number has been registered, it stays there until the number has been reassigned, disconnected, or if the owner requests its removal from the registry.

Which type of companies are exempted from the do-not-call rule?

Being included in the do-not-call registry does not mean that you will not receive unsolicited calls. You may still receive calls from charity organizations and from organizations that conduct market researches. You may still receive calls from establishments with which you have existing relationships or with which you had a relationship for the past eighteen months. If you made inquiries or submitted an application to certain companies, they may call you within the next three months. If you wouldn't want to receive any call from these companies, you may inform the caller to take your number off their list.

Their own form of do-not-call list is also implemented in other countries including Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United Kingdom.