Do Not Call Registry for Businesses
The National Do Not Call Registry is a government database that was designed to stop most, but not all, telemarketing calls that individuals and families receive at home. The registry applies to any type of business that intends to sell goods and services by placing interstate phone calls. The establishment of the Do Not Call Registry requires all telemarketers and sellers to follow specific guidelines to avoid calling phone numbers that are on the registry.
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Business Requirements
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All telemarketing businesses and sellers that use the telephone to make sales are required to search the registry every 31 days. If new numbers have been added to the registry they are required to drop them from their call lists. The Federal Trade Commission has set up a specific website that businesses can use to access the registry. When a business accesses the site for the first time a profile will need to be created by including identifiable information about the business.
Sellers
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The definition of a seller for the purposes of the Do Not Call Registry includes a person or business that offers goods or services to a consumer via a telephone transaction. A seller can place calls on their own behalf or hire telemarketers to place calls for them. All sellers should subscribe to the registry and pay the applicable fee to receive a Subscription Account Number. Sellers must have a subscription account if they hire telemarketers to make sales calls.
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Telemarketer
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The Do Not Call Registry defines a telemarketer as a person or business who uses a telephone to make or receive calls to and from a consumer. A telemarketer can register as a "Telemarketer Working for a Seller/Client" or a "Telemarketer with Independent Access". A telemarketer that wants to obtain their own independent access to the registry will need to pay their own access fee to receive a Subscription Account Number.
Service Provider
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Services providers are defined by the Do Not Call Registry as a business or person that acts as a list broker or service bureau that assists a seller or telemarketer to conduct business. A service provider can access the registry if they have been authorized by a Seller to use the Seller's Subscription Account Number. A service provider can use only the data obtained or downloaded from the registry for a specific seller.
Exceptions
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The Do Not Call Registry contains exceptions for certain groups that are not required to access the registry or place calls to consumers. There are exceptions for charities, certain non-profit organizations and groups that make political solicitations or conduct surveys. Sellers and telemarketers can also be exempt if they have a written consent or established business relationship with a consumer.
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References
Resources
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Comments
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Until they make it mandatory that all solicitations have their phone number made public so it shows up on your phone this has no meat to it. I have repeated calls with no number, number not available etc. and when I ask for business name of a caller they either refuse, give me a wrong name or in one case tell me they are the "company with brass balls" and they aren't giving us their name!
