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The Do Not Call Registry was created to keep telemarketers from hassling you with daily, unwanted phones calls while at home. You can register your phone number to be placed on a list telemarketers aren’t allowed to call. It’s bad enough when your home life is disrupted with unwanted phone calls, but with more and more people going mobile-only, do you have to worry about your on-the-go life being disrupted by telemarketers also?

Telemarketers calling your cell phone

A few years ago, there was an email being forwarded warning people that telemarketers will soon have access to cell phone numbers through a directory created by cell carriers. The solution was to register your cell phone number to the Do Not Call Registry so that they, well, could not call you. Although some cell phone providers want to make a 411 directory for cell phone customers, they aren’t going to publish it for telemarketers.

In fact, it’s illegal for telemarketers to call your cell phone for the purpose of soliciting, but only if they are using an automated dialling system. This implies cell phone numbers dialled by hand aren’t illegal. Don’t fret! Since it is very time consuming to dial all numbers by hand, most companies use automated diallers. There’s a good chance any call made to you would be illegal anyway.

Cell Phone Do Not Call Registry

You can register your cell phone number the same way you register your landline. There’s no special cell phone registry. You can register your number by calling the registry number from the phone number you wish to have added to the list, or online at the website. When registering online, you can enter up to three numbers at one time. You need an email address to register online because an email is sent for confirmation, one email for each number submitted. There is also a 31-day window to allow telemarketers to update their lists of people not to call.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says you should not worry about telemarketers using your cell phone number, so there should be no need to sign up. Telemarketer associations also state clients aren’t going to be targeting cell phones.

With that said, accidental calls to your cell phone still may happen. People who converted their main phone contact from a landline to their cell phone may still get telemarketing calls, under the assumption that the number is for a landline. When receiving a call, resist the urge to handle it the way Jerry Seinfeld handles his, unless they contact you repeatedly.

Inform them that they have called a cell phone and ask to be taken off their list. That should be enough once they know they have called a cell phone. Also ask for the company name and/or phone number. This will useful should they call again and you wish to file a complaint. Complaints can be filed through the Do Not Call Registry website.

Do Not Call Registry in Canada

There was a Do Not Call Registry for Canada based on the US version, but it’s no longer in service. At the end of 2007, CBC reported Bell will handle the Canadian registry and it should be up by September 30th.

Should you sign up?

Signing up for the registry is mainly an additional precautionary measure. It should not be required, but would be helpful should any calls make it through and you wish to file a complaint.

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