California Do Not Call Law
The National Do Not Call Registry was established to prevent businesses and individuals from making unwanted telephone solicitations. The California Office of the Attorney General is responsible for enforcing this law in California.
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About the Do Not Call Law
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In 2003, the Federal Trade Commission amended the Telemarketing Sales Rule, or TSR, in order to make it illegal for telemarketers to contact those listed in the national Do Not Call Registry. As of March 2010, more than 6 million California residents have joined the registry. The California Office of the Attorney General works in conjunction with the FTC.
How It Works
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Businesses are required to search the registry every 31 days and remove from their call lists anyone who is listed in the registry. A company is given access to the registrant's name and phone number only. Companies new to the system must complete a profile that includes their company, name, address, representative name and the representative's phone number.
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Joining the Registry
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To be added to the Do Not Call Registry, contact the California attorney general's office either by phone or online, or contact the FTC by phone or online. The registry is free to join. Because of the Do-Not-Call Improvement Act of 2007, you can't be removed from the registry once you're added.
Who is Not Covered
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Organizations that are excluded from the Do Not Call law include political organizations, charities and companies that you have an established relationship with. Businesses that you have made a purchase from are allowed to contact you for up to 18 months afterward even if your name is in the registry. Any company that you have made an inquiry to or submitted an application to can contact you for up to three months after.
What to Do About Violations
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If you have a complaint about a violation of the Do Not Call law, file a complaint at the National Do Not Call Registry website (see Resources). You can also report by phone by calling the registry hotline at 888-382-1222 (TTY 866-290-4236). Note that telemarketers have up to 30 days from the time you register to remove your name from their lists. Therefore, if you have been contacted within this 30-day period, it's likely that the company is still in the process of removing you. You can also tell the company directly that you no longer wish to be contacted, since individual companies will comply with opt-out requests.
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References
Resources
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