It is about time...Telemarketers beware!

[weatherwunder]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal regulators are speeding up the launch of a national do-not-call list that will block many unwanted telemarketing calls.

The Federal Trade Commission said Monday that telephone registration for the free service will be available nationwide in early July, nearly two months earlier than originally planned.

The FTC plans to launch a Web site on July 1 so consumers can register online. Telephone registration in states west of the Mississippi River will begin at the same time. Nationwide registration should begin a week later.

Beginning in September, telemarketers will have to check the list every three months to determine who does not want to be called. Those who call listed people could be fined up to $11,000 for each violation. Consumers would be able to file complaints by phone or online to an automated system.

The government said consumers should see a decrease in telemarketing calls after it begins enforcing the do-not-call list in October.

More than two dozen states already have their own do-not-call lists or legislation pending that would create them. Most states plan to add their lists to the national registry, which will be financed by fees collected from telemarketers.

Telemarketers say the registry will devastate their industry and have sued the FTC on grounds the registry amounts to an unlawful restriction on free speech.

There are exceptions to the FTC's do-not-call protections.

A company may call someone on the list if that person has bought, leased or rented from the company within the past 18 months. Telemarketers also can call people if they have inquired about or applied for something from the company during the past three months.

Charities, surveys and calls on behalf of politicians also are exempt.

[weatherlover427]

This is great news! Go away telemarketers!

[Stormsfury]

Telemarketers must beware as well ... especially when Tom Mabe is the next of the telemarketers call list.

Check the comedian's site out and browse for yourself. (BTW, this is the same comedian which crashed the telemarketer's convection in Chicago last year).

http://www.tommabe.com/

Facts about telemarketers.
http://www.tommabe.com/facts.php

[MScoast]

It's about darn time. I have an unlisted number and they STILL call me. IF I answer...they get an ear full

[BreinLa]

We have that do not call list in Louisiana, It's Great!!!!! Simple and easy to sign up for on the web site poof no more calls

[mf_dolphin]

WoooHooo!

I admit it's almost gotten to be a sport at my house "playing with the telemarketers" LOL

[chadtm80]

Since I bought this house I cant tell you how many "congradulations on your new house, can we come out and show you....." calls I have gotten.. So we got privacy director... Boy oh Boy does that help... Only cost 2 bucks a month... well worth it to me

[therock1811]

We get a LOT of calls like that... and it is so annoying that we don't pick up unless we recognize the number.

[southerngale]

Telemarketers drive me crazy. I've started saying things like, "I'm busy right now. Just give me your home phone number and I'll call you back later at you're house." They usually hang up fast then.

[therock1811]

that's one way to handle it.

[Lindaloo]

We just got the no call list here in MS. But they have loosened up some of the noose on them. If they are going to call they can't block the number from a person's caller ID. Like for instance, Bellsouth called me, it showed unavailable and the number. First of all, my number is unlisted and second Bellsouth should know better than to solicit.