Consumer Corner: I Am Registered For The Do Not Call List & I Still Get Sales Calls

September 14, 2014

Provided by the Bucks County Department of Consumer Protection:

Q. I have registered and re-registered both my home telephone number as well as my cell phone number on the “Do Not Call” lists. Yet I am still receiving calls from companies trying to sell me something. I answer the phone and inform them that they should not be calling my number but sometimes they call again and again. What benefit is there of registering on the “Do Not Call” list if it doesn’t prevent getting these calls? How are they getting my number? How or where do I go to complain about them? – S.A. Tullytown, Pa

A. Unfortunately, many of these calls are made randomly by scammers there is no personal information attached to your number when the initial call is made, therefore the “Do Not Call” registry could not protect you from these types of calls. Please remember that, most times, when you receive this type of unsolicited telephone call, it is not simply a telemarketer trying to persuade you to buy their product. These tend to be more of a criminal nature; attempting to gain your personal information such as credit card numbers, birthdates and even Social Security numbers. These criminal callers can go so far as to use technology so that your caller ID shows a false name and number from the actual one they are calling from. These troublesome, unwanted nuisance calls are frustrating to most of us.
We at Bucks County Consumer Protection are happy to report that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) DOES want your voices to be heard. The FTC is now holding a “Rule Review & Request for public Comments” event aimed at improving upon the regulations concerning the Do Not Call List laws.

The Commission requests public comment on its Telemarketing Sales Rule (‘‘TSR’’ or ‘‘Rule’’). The Commission is soliciting comments as part of the FTC’s systematic review of all current Commission regulations and guides.

If you would like to share your opinion about the Do Not Call list and its effectiveness, comments must be received on or before October 14, 2014. Please follow the link below and click to Bucks County Consumer protection web site “Join The Conversation…” link to access more information, learn how to file via regular mail or to file your opinion online. It’s our chance to give input on this issue that annoys many of us.