How to Stop Telephone Solicitation

The phone rings just as you are sitting down to dinner with the family. You soon find yourself hanging up on an aggressive salesperson who simply would not say no. You return to the table, agitated and wondering what to do. The Federal Trade Commission, or FTC, established the National Do Not Call Registry to give you the option of not receiving telemarketing calls at home or on your cell phone; 78 percent of those registering reported receiving fewer or no calls.

• 1

  Verify that your number is not already listed on the Do Not Call Registry. Go on line to donotcall.gov (see Resources) and click on the "Verify a Registration" icon. You will receive a confirmation e-mail. You must respond to the confirmation within 72 hours after receiving it. Or, phone verify by calling 1-888-382-1222 and choosing the appropriate options.

• 2

  Wait 31 days for most of the telemarketing calls to stop. Some calls are exempt from the Do Not Call Registry. These are calls from political organizations, charitable groups and companies conducting telephone surveys. Calls from companies you have a business relationship with or that you have given permission to call are also exempt.

• 3

  File a complaint with the FTC if you receive a telemarketing call after the 31-day period. Record the company name or phone number and the date and time the call was received. Note whether the call promoted or sold any goods, services or property. On line, visit donotcall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222.

• 4

  Contact those companies that are exempt by way of a business relationship and request to be put on their do not call list. The company must refrain from making telephone solicitations for a five-year period after the request. At that time, you must renew the request for another five years.

• 5

  Check with your state's Public Services Commission (PSC) to determine if a state do not call list is offered. The PSC will provide registry instructions and actions to take should the calls continue.