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Consumers Can Fight Back With FTC Do Not Call Registry
Consumers Can Fight Back With FTC
Do Not Call Registry
by James H. Dimmitt
The Federal Trade Commission has announced that it will
roll out it's National Do Not Call Registry beginning
July 1, 2003. This is great news for consumers who have
grown tired of annoying sales calls by pesky telemarketers.Consumers
will be able to register online at a website established
by the FTC beginning July 1, the agency said. This is
a free service and registration renewal to be placed on
the list would occur every 5 years.
Additionally, a toll-free number will be available soon
to register by phone. This program will be introduced
over an eight-week period beginning in states west of
the Mississippi River. The program will spread nationwide
the following week.Telemarketers will be required to "clean"
their call lists by matching their list against the national
"do not call" list every 90 days starting in
September 2003.Companies who call listed people will be
subject to fines of up to $11,000 per violation. Enforcement
will begin in October 2003.Over two dozen states already
have their own "do-not-call" lists and most
of these states plan to incorporate their lists into the
national registry.
CAUTION: There have already been reports of scam
artists and identity thieves calling people to request
or confirm personal information for this new registry.The
FTC has posted this warning to consumers on their web
page:
"The FTC will not allow private companies
or other such third parties to "pre-register"
consumers for the national Do Not Call registry. Web
sites or phone solicitations that claim they can or
will register a consumer's name or phone number on a
national list - especially those that charge a fee -
are a scam. Consumers will be able to register directly
with the FTC, or through some state governments, but
never private companies."
This is an "opt-in" service only, meaning you
must initiate your registration when the service becomes
available this next month. Consumers should also be aware
that some types of telephone solicitation are exempt from
the do-not-call protection.
They include companies from which you have purchased,
leased or rented from in the previous 18 months. Also
charities, surveys, and calls on behalf of politicians
will be exempt from this service.
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© 2003, James H. Dimmitt
James is editor of "TO YOUR CREDIT", a weekly
free consumer-oriented newsletter. Subscribe to the newsletter
by visiting http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com.
He is also author of "Identity Theft - How to Avoid
Becoming the Next Victim!" available at http://tinyurl.com/bc45
© 2003
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