The federal government's Do Not Call Registry allows you to choose whether you want to receive telemarketing calls at home. Under the Do-Not-Call Improvement Act of 2007, which became law in February 2008, telephone numbers on the registry now remain on it permanently, until they are disconnected or reassigned. If you get restricted telemarketing calls after your number has been in the national registry for three months, you can file a complaint using the same web page andn toll-free number.

If your number has been on the National Do Not Call Registry for at least 31 days and you receive a call from a telemarketer that you believe is covered by the National Do No Call Registry, you can file a complaint or call toll free 1-888-382-1222 (TTY: 1-866-290-4236).

You no longer need to renew your registration every five years. Once you place your number in the registry, it will remain there unless you remove it. If you get restricted telemarketing calls after your number has been in the national registry for three months, you can file a complaint online or by calling 1-888-382-1222.

Placing your number on this national registry will stop most telemarketing calls, but not all of them. Calls that are still permitted include those from:

• Political Organizations
• Charities
• Telephone surveyors
• Some insurance situations
• Organizations with which you have a relationship can call up to 18 months after your last purchase, payment or delivery
• Companies to which you have made an inquiry or submitted an application can call you for up to three months.

You can stop these calls by asking the company to put your number on its own do-not-call list. Not the name of the person you spoke with, the organization, and the date of the call. The Federal Communications Commission requires telemarketers (except tax-exempt nonprofit organizations) to maintain a record of your request not to receive future telephone calls. The record must be maintained for 10 years. If you get another call from the same person or organization, report the date and source to the FCC.

Consider screening any calls that are still slipping through by using an answering machine. You can listen to the caller and decide if you want to pick up. Your local telephone company may also offer services (such as Caller I.D.) that allow you to see the name and number of the person calling you.

Some states have their own do not call lists for residents. Contact your state consumer protection office to find out if your state has such a list and how you can be added.

From the Federal Citizen Information Center