How to Block Telemarketers From a Home Phone
By: Laura Heilman
How to Stop Nuisance Calls
Have you ever just wanted to turn the ringer off of your home phone to get a break from annoying telemarketers? There are better ways to deal with these unsolicited sales calls. You can block telemarketers from calling your home phone by registering with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and also your state government's organization. For the most persistent sales callers, there are avenues for taking action against them. Be your own advocate and put a stop to unsolicited telemarketers.
Register your phone number for free with the National Do Not Call Registry by visiting their website or calling (800) 382-1222 for voice or (866) 290-4236 for TTY. Be sure to call from the phone number that you want to register. The Do Not Call Improvement Act of 2007 which became a law in 2008 ensures that registered phone numbers will stay on the list permanently.
Get on your state's Do Not Call list by contacting its consumer protection office or public utilities commission. To get this information, click the link provided below for the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners or check the blue pages of your local telephone directory.
Call the telemarketer and clearly state that you want to be put on a Do Not Call list. The FCC requires that telemarketing companies keep a list of people who have directly requested to be removed from their call list. This request will be valid for five years. After that time you will have to call and request to be taken off the list again.
File a complaint if a telemarketer continues to call after you have tried the steps above. Jot the phone number down and register your complaint with the National Do Not Call Registry and the FCC.
Registering your phone number with the organizations listed above will help to cut back on telemarketing phone calls. It will not diminish prank or harassing calls. For these types of phone calls, contact your local law enforcement.
FCC to file a complaint
FCC consumer facts on unwanted calls
National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners
How to Find a Restricted Phone Number
How to Sign Up for the Do Not Call List
How to Take a Home Phone Number Off of a Telemarketing List
How to Add My Phone Number to the Do Not Call List
How to Stop Calls From Certain Phone Numbers
Ethical Issues in Call Centers