Register your Cell number

Did you know that it is perfectly o.k. for telemarketers to call your cell phone unless you register it with the Do Not Call Registry even though it is supposed to be illegal? So, even though we are paying for the minutes on our cell phones that these telemarketers take advantage of the FCC won't do anything unless your number is registered with the Do Not Call Registry.

I recently had a telemarketer call my cell phone and then I registered my number and I also called the FCC to report it because it is illegal for telemarketers to call cell phone numbers. According to the FCC nothing can be done unless you have registered your cell number, then you have to wait 31 days. Then if you receive calls after the 31 days, you may then file a complaint with the FCC against the telemarketer.

If you tell the telemarketer not to call again the FCC won't do anything unless it has been 30 days. You have to wait 30 days for the telemarketer to remove your number from their list before the FCC will even consider doing anything.

Don't wait, register your cell phone number now with the Do Not Call Registry.

Call: 1-888-382-1222
Call from the number you wish to register.

Since I use my cell as my main phone, that's one of the first things I did. FCC keeps threatening a cell phone directory (in addition to the telephone book) and I didn't want to risk anything.

Once you get on the list though, only organizations (non-profits) can call...but even then I think there's a restriction on that.

All of my family members and I have our cell phones and home phones registered. There is also a website that you can register on as well, not sure what it is though, but thats what we used.

I think its horrible that they are starting to call cell phones, I used to get a few telemarketers on my cell phone all the time, until I registered - they drive me nuts!

You can also register online at www.donotcall.gov

They recently changed the rules for cell phones because the telemarketing companies were mad about being blocked from so many numbers, and because so many people are giving up their land lines. There was a big thing on the news about it a few months ago, and letting people know that they needed to register on the Do Not Call list if they didn't want them calling their cells.

It is getting really crazy with telemarketers. I hate it when you tell them no and they won't take no for an answer. I feel rude when I hang up on them but its rude for them just calling me at all hours of the day or night even on weekends!!

I'm already on the telephone preference list. The only people who have my mobile number are the ones that's already programmed in it, otherwise i never answer it.

I have been getting a lot of telemarketers and I have only had a land line for 2 weeks! Does anyone know what IQI is? I keep getting them on my caller id.

is that available in canada yet?

It is supposed to be available in Canada by next year, just a warning for those in Canada, there is a big scam going around where a 1877 number calls and no one answers it on their end so a lot of people call it back. It says 'welcome to the do not call registry please key in your phone number and a pin # in case we need to speak to you so we can verify that you are the phone owner'. They then use the pin to 'prove' they are the owner and charge calls to your phone.

The do not call list legislation had hearings earlier this month for the official government registry, howeverm one of the big companies that sell numbers to telemarketers is the Canadian Marketing Association (CMA) and you can request that they remove your number from their lists here, it takes about 6 weeks to go through

If you're on the do-not-call list, the only people who can call you are those you have a prior relationship with. Such as, your college can call alumni and ask for donations, if you've donated blood to the Red Cross they can call you, if you are a member of a group like the ACLU or the NRA or whatever else they can call you. I think this is actually pretty cool, because those are the only types of things I would want calling me anyway.
Thanks for the info, I'm going to do this right now. I never knew how.

To clear up a couple of things here - I'm in the list industry and actually sell telemarketing lists to legitimate telemarketing companies. Generally I only sell to B-2-B, but am occassionally required to sell consumer telephone lists. When I do, I make certain that they have all proper documentation proving that they are in compliance with the DNC registry.

I am also personally registered on the Federal Do Not Call list. Once you register, it is valid for 5 years, at which point you will have to re-register. It takes approximately 30 days for your number to be active on the list.

The ONLY companies that can call you once your phone number is on the DNC list are the following:

Businesses that you have had a relationship with, either past or present.

Non-profit organizations - whether or not you have ever been affiliated with them. This includes churches and charities.

Politicians - they conveniently exempted themselves when they passed the legislation so they can still bug the you know what out of you when it comes to pleas for donations and votes.

That's it, no more, no less.

Originally Posted by GingersMom

Businesses that you have had a relationship with, either past or present.

Click to expand...

Question ~ what about companies that have different sub-companies? Are they ALL entitled to telemarket or just the ones that you actually did business with? I am on the DNC list, but I get a lot of calls that don't appear to be from any business I know.

Originally Posted by Rockcat

Question ~ what about companies that have different sub-companies? Are they ALL entitled to telemarket or just the ones that you actually did business with? I am on the DNC list, but I get a lot of calls that don't appear to be from any business I know.

Click to expand...

If they are subsidiaries of a parent company that you did business with, they MAY still have the right to call you, I'm not 100% sure on that.

When you get such calls, record the date & time of the call and the name of the company or the number they are calling from. Keep a log book near your phone. Ask them to put you on their Do Not Call list - every company is required to maintain one internally.

If they continue to call, you can report them to the FCC after a set period of time - it can take 6-8 weeks for a Do Not Call request to be correctly logged within a business - and by keeping the call log, you have the ammo you need for the FCC to take them to court and fine them for violation.

Direct TV was fined over 5 million dollars for violating the Federal do not call policy! But these businesses will only be fined if people like you and me take the time to detail the call info and actually take action by reporting them.

I don't like these calls either - my cell phone is my only phone (other than work) and I don't like the idea of someone calling me and it costing me money (in minutes) to pitch a product I'm not interested in. I did register and I think most of those calls have stopped now.

ATC And IQI Announce Third- Largest Industry Merger
Dallas-based ATC Communications Group, Inc. and Los Angeles-based IQI, Inc., which are two of nationâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s largest teleservices companies, have announced a definitive agreement for a stock-for-stock merger of the two companies. The combined company creates a top-tier competitor and is valued at approximately $150 million, which is the third-largest merger in the industry. Stephen A. McNeely, CEO of IQI and the announced CEO of the new entity, noted, "The combined company will provide total customer care, customer acquisition and custom market research." On an historical, proforma basis, combined 1997 revenues were $250 million. The combined company has about 8,000 teleservices professionals, 6,000 work stations and 21 call centers. "This merger matches a leader in inbound teleservices, ATC, with a leader in outbound services, IQI — itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s a great strategic fit," said Michael G. Santry, chairman and CEO of ATC. Santry will co-chair the combined company with Dr. Paul G. Stern, a founding partner of Thayer Capital, IQIâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s largest shareholder. "Combining IQIâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s unique capabilities in multilingual, pay-for-performance and database management with ATCâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s information technology platform will create a strong, strategic weapon," Stern explained. The transaction requires ATC Communications Group shareholder and regulatory approvals, and is expected to be completed by July. To accomplish the merger, ATC will issue about 3.2 million shares of stock in exchange for IQIâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s equity. IQI shareholders will own 57.5 percent of the common stock after the merger and ATC shareholders will own 42.5 percent.

I hate telemarking calls but I just put up with them - they're just doing their job but we probably only get one call every six months.

I've never received one on my cellphone.

as far as i know how it works here, if you dont answer their questions or stay on the phone for a certain amount of time, the telemarketers dont get payed.
They get payed per call.

Dont know how it works over there, but sounds like you guys have a big problem with it

How about phone text messages? Does it fall under the "Do not call" laws?

I registered my cell phone a year ago, so thankfully I don't have to worry about that now.

Originally Posted by GingersMom

If they are subsidiaries of a parent company that you did business with, they MAY still have the right to call you, I'm not 100% sure on that.

When you get such calls, record the date & time of the call and the name of the company or the number they are calling from. Keep a log book near your phone. Ask them to put you on their Do Not Call list - every company is required to maintain one internally.

If they continue to call, you can report them to the FCC after a set period of time - it can take 6-8 weeks for a Do Not Call request to be correctly logged within a business - and by keeping the call log, you have the ammo you need for the FCC to take them to court and fine them for violation.

Direct TV was fined over 5 million dollars for violating the Federal do not call policy! But these businesses will only be fined if people like you and me take the time to detail the call info and actually take action by reporting them.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info!
I think whats happening to me is the subsidiaries are calling. My Mom thinks its outlined in those teeny little notices about privacy that comes with bills. She said that theres a number on those notices to call and be removed from the calling lists. I think it is unfair that we need to take this extra step with every business we deal with. It bothers me almost as much as receiving unwanted faxes. We don't have caller ID and I let the answering machine pick up most calls. These telemarketers keep calling back until a live person answers. Well, theres a lot worse going on in the world, but this sure is aggravating.