How Long Is the Do Not Call Registry Good For?

Consumers who are sick of getting unwanted telemarketing calls and texts can add their number to the National Do Not Call Registry.

What is the Do Not Call Registry?

The National Do Not Call Registry is a database maintained by the United States government, which consists of a list of phone numbers from consumers and families that telemarketers are prohibited from calling.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) opened the registry in order to comply with the Do Not Call Implementation Act of 2003, which acts in compliance with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) of 1991.

How long does the Do Not Call Registry last?

It is permanent, but this was not always the case. Before the Do Not Call Improvement Act of 2007, numbers only stayed on the Do Not Call Registry for five years. Since February 2008, numbers added to the registry stay on a permanent basis.

Registration for the Do Not Call Registry opened on June 27, 2003, with enforcement starting in October 2003. Since Jan. 01, 2005, telemarketers covered by the registry have up to 31 days from the date the number is registered to stop calling that number.

So if a consumer gets an email claiming to be from the “FTC” claiming that their Do Not Call registration status is expiring, it should be ignored and filed as spam.

The only time a number is removed from the registry is if a number is disconnected, reassigned, or requested by the consumer to be removed.

How does the Do Not Call Registry work?

Registering a phone number
with the Do Not Call Registry is free and can be done over the phone or the registry’s website. If done through email, the registry will ask for an email address and then send a confirmation email to complete registration.

After the phone number is completely registered, telemarketers are prohibited from calling this number until either the consumer removes the number from the registry, or if the number is disconnected or reassigned. Consumers can expect fewer calls within 31 days of signing up.

If a consumer receives telemarketing calls after registering their number after 31 days, they can file a complaint with donotcall.gov or calling their toll free number. Consumers need to know the date and time of the alleged call, the name of the company and its associated phone number.

It is important to note that a telemarketer that is found to willfully disobey the National Do Not Call Registry could face up to $40,000 per unwanted call.

Do all spam callers have to follow the Do Not Call Registry?

While placing a phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry will stop most telemarketing calls, it will not stop all of them.

Calls from political organizations, charities, and telephone surveyors are still allowed to call the phone number, along with telemarketers that have an established business relationship with the consumer.

In this case, a company can contact a consumer for up to 18 months after the customer’s last transaction regardless of their status on the registry.

In addition, customers on the registry can still give companies expression written consumer to call them and they have the right to revoke consent at any point after. Customers asked to be placed on a company’s do not call registry must honor the request for up to five years.

Join a Free TCPA Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you were contacted on your cell phone by a company via an unsolicited text message (text spam) or prerecorded voice message (robocall), you may be eligible for compensation under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

Get a Free Case Evaluation Now

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.