Make sure you’re registered

Consumers can limit telemarketing calls by registering their personal home and cell telephone numbers with the National Do Not Call Registry You can call toll-free 1-888-382-1222 (TTY 1-866-290-4236) from the telephone number you want to register.

There’s no charge to register, and you can register at any time. Ignore email alerts from companies offering to register your number for a fee or before a deadline: they’re scams!

Your registration is permanent and doesn’t need to be renewed. Verify your registration after significant changes in your account – like a change in billing name – as these changes can sometimes trigger a deletion in the Registry. Because the system automatically removes most numbers that are disconnected, you may need to re-register if your service has been disconnected and reconnected.

The Registry accepts both landline (home) and cell phone numbers, but cell phones receive fewer telemarketing calls because federal regulations prohibit telemarketers from using automated dialers to call them.

Some telemarketers are permitted to call

Under new FCC rules, telemarketing calls, calls to sell you goods and services, and robocalls and robotexts must stop no more than 10 days following registration on the Do-Not-Call Registry or after you’ve otherwise revoked your permission to receive the telemarketing calls and texts.  The rules allow you to revoke your consent in any reasonable way, including voicemail, email, or texting words such as “stop”, “quit”, “end, “opt out” or the like.   Companies can continue to call and text, however, if you’ve given them written permission to do so.

Federal law allows calls from companies with which you have an existing relationship. Unless you tell the company to place you on its own do-not-call list, you may receive telemarketing calls up to 18 months after you make a purchase or payment, or up to three months after you submit an inquiry or application.

Federal law also allows calls from or on behalf of charities, political organizations, and telephone surveyors.

Virginia law also protects your telephone privacy

The Virginia Telephone Privacy Protection Act (VTPPA) prohibits telemarketers subject to the VTPPA from calling a telephone number on the National Do Not Call Registry.

Under the VTPPA, a telemarketer may call a residence only between 8:00AM and 9:00PM, must promptly identify himself using his full name and company, and may not intentionally block caller-identification services. If a consumer asks not to be called, that request must be honored for at least 10 years.

• The VTPPA’s penalty provisions allow consumers to sue violators and recover damages of $500 for each violation, or up to $1,500 for willful violations.

Complaints and contact information

Document details of the unsolicited call and provide this information in your complaint to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC.)

If you receive an unsolicited telemarketing call more than 31 days after your registration, you can file a complaint with the National Do Not Call Registry either at the Registry’s website, or by calling the Registry’s toll-free number, at 1-888-382-1222 (TTY: 1-866-290-4236). You’re not required to provide your name and address when making a complaint.

The National Do Not Call Registry is a joint undertaking of the Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission, but is managed by the FTC. Questions or complaints can be directed to the FTC by email at or by mail.

National Do Not Call Registry, Attn: DNC Manager

Federal Trade Commission

600 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W., Washington, DC 20580

Robocalls

What’s a Robocall?

Your phone rings and when you answer you hear a recording, that’s a robocall. Some robocalls are legal, such as political candidate calls or charities asking for a donation. Sales calls are not legal, unless you’ve given the company written permission to call.

Some prerecorded calls are allowed. If the message is purely informational, such as reminders about a medical appointment or delayed school opening. It is also legal for pharmacies to leave a prerecorded message that pertains to a prescription refill.

Robocallers

Robocallers usually place calls through internet technology that can hide their location. They can fake the caller ID information (ID spoofing) to show a name you may be familiar with, such as your bank. Be on alert when your Caller ID says “unknown,” as that’s a strong indication it’s a robocall. You may not want to answer the phone if your caller ID shows a number you don’t recognize. If it’s a legitimate call, the caller will leave a voice message.

Be Proactive

Hang up! If you don’t hang up quickly enough you will probably hear instructions on how to proceed with the call. If you follow these instructions, you could very well be giving the robocaller permission to keep calling you.

Call your phone provider about a block on your phone number. There may be a fee, however, because robocallers can fake caller ID phone numbers without a trace, the cost will give you piece of mind.

The FTC wants to hear from you about this. If you contact them to report your experience, it helps the FTC spot the forms of fraud and abuse, which is a win-win. The FTC has a webpage called the FTC Complaint Assistant or you can call 1-888-382-1222.

It’s very likely the phone number you report to the FTC isn’t real, and therefore, very hard for the robocaller to be found, so though you may not see immediate results, the FTC is working to find solutions to fight back.

Read the information about the National Do Not Call Registry.