donotcall.gov; anybody else notice it's not working?

[baraff]

When congress passed the do not call act a few years back and the registry was established, I was impressed because it seemed that this was something that actually worked. Our junk calls virtually ceased overnight.
In the last year or so I have noticed that scofflaws are blatantly ignoring the law and once again are cold-calling, usually for debt-reduction, interest-reduction scams, only this time they are calling cell phone numbers. I get at least one of these calls a day. (And I have no debt or loans to reduce interest on) I never answer my phone unless I recognize the number and these calls are being left on voice mail.
I am filing complaints but nothing seems to be happening. Anybody noticing the same problem?

[GaryKD]

Hi baraff,
Yep, unfortunately the victim must do all the work to have the law complied with.

[patmsp]

I have noticed it too. [moderator edit]

[Ray,IN]

We decided to use a different approach rather than the do not call list. We have unpublished phone numbers for both wired and wireless phones. Even telephone information operators do not have access to these phone numbers. The only unwanted calls we get are wrong numbers, and computer-dialed calls. I think it costs $2@month for this service, but it works very well.
One thing folks using the do not call list realize is, there are exceptions in that law allowing non-profit, religious, and a few other organizations to may make cold calls on the list. This means they have a government sponsored phone number list to use.
This link explains it in detail.

[baraff]

@Ray, interesting approach, and maybe one I will consider. However its a little perturbing to have to spend extra $ to get some privacy, even if it is only $2 a month.
And the only time I ever hear from our congress crittur is in the months before an election, when I am inundated with recorded phone calls. I refuse to vote for her based on that alone. GRRRRR!
But that's for another thread.......

[Bucksmom]

I may be mistaken but I thought Do Not Call lists had an expiration date. I think you may have to reenlist?

[baraff]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bucksmom I may be mistaken but I thought Do Not Call lists had an expiration date. I think you may have to reenlist?

Originally that was true. However, I believe a law was passed in 2009 making registration of a number permanent. You can also verify your number is still registered.

From the website FAQs:
Will My Registration Expire?

1. How long does my phone number stay registered? Telephone numbers on the registry will only be removed when they are disconnected and reassigned, or when the consumer chooses to remove a number from the registry.

[Mr_D]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bucksmom I may be mistaken but I thought Do Not Call lists had an expiration date. I think you may have to reenlist?

Nope, supposed to be permanent.
I get at least two calls a day, they show as "TOLL FREE" on my caller ID. I just don't pick them up, in fact if I don't recognize the caller I don't answer.

[Wayne MD]

I am on DNC listing. I get those calls for credit card offers, bank deals now and then. Wonder what this would be like if I wasn't on the DNC list? Since banks cannot read the listings, I would hope since my name isn't on this listing no one would now call me? Guess I shouldn't of signed up for this advertisement.

[hamguy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by baraff When congress passed the do not call act a few years back and the registry was established, I was impressed because it seemed that this was something that actually worked. Our junk calls virtually ceased overnight. In the last year or so I have noticed that scofflaws are blatantly ignoring the law and once again are cold-calling, usually for debt-reduction, interest-reduction scams, only this time they are calling cell phone numbers. I get at least one of these calls a day. (And I have no debt or loans to reduce interest on) I never answer my phone unless I recognize the number and these calls are being left on voice mail. I am filing complaints but nothing seems to be happening. Anybody noticing the same problem?

This is political season and calls from pols are allowed. Also, places you have done business with can call you.

However, we have 2-cell phones and haven't seen any increase in calls.

[tvman44]

Still get unwanted calls.

[GMRHost]

My home phone system screens my calls, and automatically greets "800, unknown name, private name" with a message asking for a non-toll free landline to be entered before proceding, and calls not in my dialing list with a message asking the caller to state their name, which gets broadcast over the handsets. If I don't know em, we don't talk right then, they can leave a message.
As for the 2009 ruling, the old list still expired, only the registrants post-09 will be permanent.

[LadyFitz...]

Quote:

Originally Posted by baraff;982855... And the only time I ever hear from our congress crittur is in the months before an election, when I am inundated with recorded phone calls. I refuse to vote for her based on that alone. GRRRRR! But that's for another thread.......

I not only do not vote for the politician, I call them or send a polite (i.e. no swear words) nasty email letting them know why I won't vote for them. I punctuate my disatisfaction by telling them that even if politicians are exempt from the DNC, if they cared about their constituency, they would honor it anyway.

[LadyFitz...]

I've got only one telemarketer (goes by the name of Card Services and is calling from Boca Raton, FL; an appropriate location since boca raton means rat mouth in Spanish) who has been consistantly bugging me on my home phone for the past six months. Their recording has an option to not receive further calls from them. It doesn't work. I asked to speak to a supervisor one time, was placed on hold for a minute, then was disconnected. I've complained to the police, the DNC, and the FCC (per the police). No luck. There was a segment on the local news last night about telemarketers ignoring the DNC (Card Services was one they mentioned) and the newsies suggested reporting the scum to the FTC.

I don't get many telemarketing calls on my home phone anymore because I just do not give out my phone number any more. If a business refuses to do business with me without a phone number, I give them a fake number with 555 in the prefix (any phone number with 555 in the prefix will go to directory assistance; that way, some innocent person will not get my junk calls).

I've received only one telemarketing call (actually, the same outfit called three times and left a message) on my cell phone, again because I never give it out except to close friends. The one outfit that did call me I shut down because I lived close enough to them to make good on a threat to personally visit them with a bill for my time and their use of my phone and camp out there until paid.