How to Check if a Number Is On the Do Not Call List

Scam calls, solicitations from telemarketers, and robocalls are not only annoying and distracting — in some cases, they may also be illegal. The National Do Not Call Registry was created in 2003 and revised part of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) to offer further protections for consumers who don’t wish to receive these unwanted calls and text messages.

If you’ve registered your cell or residential landline but continue to receive countless unwanted sales calls, you may be wondering how to check if a number is on the Do Not Call list.

How to Find Out if Your Number is On the Do Not Call List

More than 241 million numbers are on the Do Not Call registry. If you’re uncertain whether your number is on it, you can verify with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by checking online.

When you verify your registration on the Do Not Call list online, you may enter up to three numbers at a time to determine whether any of them are registered. You must also provide a valid email address to receive the information. Within a few minutes, you will be sent an email confirming which numbers are on the list and the date they were registered. Alternatively, you can verify registration over the phone by calling 1-888-382-1222 from the number you’d like to confirm is on the list.

How Long Does a Number Stay On the Do Not Call List?

Once you register for the Do Not Call List, your number will appear on it the following day. However, the FTC advises consumers that it may take up to 31 days for the unwanted sales calls to stop. Once a number is registered, it stays on the list indefinitely — unless it is disconnected, reassigned, or you request that it be removed.

How to Register On the Do Not Call List

Once you know how to check if a number is on the Do Not Call List, you can always register if you find out it’s not. The few minutes you take to register for the Do Not Call list could end up saving you a considerable amount of aggravation and time wasted on spam calls. Registering is free and can be done by calling 1-888-382-1222 from the phone number you’d like to place on the list.

You can also register a number at donotcall.gov. If you choose to register online, you will receive an email link that you need to click within 72 hours after it’s sent to complete the Do Not Call list registration. The FTC assures consumers that email addresses are safely secured and will not be shared with telemarketers.

Does the Do Not Call List Work?

If you registered your number and you’re still getting calls, you may be asking yourself “does the Do Not Call list work?” The Do Not Call Registry may help minimize unwanted telemarketing calls and robocalls, but it doesn’t apply to every type of call you may not want to receive.

Under the TCPA, the following types of calls are allowed, even if your number is on the registry:

• Calls you gave written permission to receive
• Political campaign calls
• Certain debt collection calls
• Informational calls to inform about weather alerts, school closings, etc.
• Calls made by charity organizations
• Surveys

Businesses may also call if you have an established relationship with the company, whether or not you’re on the Do Not Call list. In fact, a company like a car dealership can call for up to 18 months after your last business transaction without violating the registry, unless you tell them not to contact you. Additionally, a business can call you for up to three months after you’ve made an inquiry or submitted an application — if you do not wish to receive calls from them, you can request to be placed on a company-specific do not call list.

It’s important to understand that the Do Not Call list doesn’t block calls. Instead, it informs companies which numbers they aren’t permitted to call.

Unfortunately, having your number on the list doesn’t always stop scammers looking to steal financial or personal information. If you’re getting many of these calls, you may consider installing or downloading a call-blocking app. It’s also a good idea to contact your carrier to see what spam blocking services they offer.  You should also track these calls if considering a future TCPA lawsuit.

What is Being Done to Stop Unwanted Sales Calls?

Millions of unwanted calls are reported to the FTC every year. As of October, the FTC had already received nearly four million complaints in 2020 from consumers on the Do Not Call list.

Some of the top calls complained about during the last few years have included debt reduction spam calls, those made by imposters, and scams concerning prescriptions. Specifically, 71% of the reports last year were about robocalls and 24% concerned live telemarketing.

Companies that violate the TCPA by making calls to numbers listed on the registry can face significant fines and be subject to FTC enforcement actions — the FTC can impose fines of up to $42,530 per call in violation. According to the FTC, the agency has recovered $52 million in civil penalties and $107 million in redress or disgorgement to date.  Consumers may also file or join a TCPA class action lawsuit against those companies.

If you’re on the Do Not Call List and continue to receive unwanted calls, you can report them to the FTC at donotcall.gov. You may also report robocalls to the FTC, even if your number is not on the Do Not Call list. Consumers have rights, and may be entitled to receive $500 to $1500 for each illegal call they received from a business that violated the TCPA.