Privacy Maven

It’s hard to believe it has been nearly five years since the National Do Not Call Registry was begin. June 2008 marks five years and for those who signed up early on, that is when their do-not-call status will end. More than 149 million phone numbers are in the National Do Not Call Registry. According to the Associated Press:

The Federal Trade Commission, which oversees the list, says there is a simple fix. But some lawmakers think it is a hassle to expect people to re-register their phone numbers every five years.

Numbers placed on the registry, begun in June 2003, are valid for five years. For the millions of people who signed onto the list in its early days, their numbers will automatically drop off beginning next June if they do not enroll again.

“It is incredibly quick and easy to do,” Lydia Parnes, director of the FTC’s bureau of consumer protection, said in an interview with The Associated Press this week. “It was so easy for people to sign up in the first instance. It will be just as easy for them to re-up.”

But Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Pa., says people should not be forced to re-register to keep telemarketers at bay. Doyle introduced legislation this week, with bipartisan support, to make registrations permanent.

“When someone takes the time and effort to say ‘I don’t want these kinds of calls coming into my house,’ they shouldn’t have to keep a calendar to find out when they have to re-up to keep this nuisance from happening,” Doyle said in an interview.

Yes, unfortunately, the effort to remain on the Do Not Call list is left to the individual; numbers will expire without notice or warning, and telemarketers will resume calling. Visit the National Do Not Call Registry website or call 1-888-382-1222 to determine when your number expires, if listed, or to add it if you have not yet done so. For detailed FAQs on the Do Not Call Registry, visit this page on the FTC Website.