Are You Getting Telemarketing Calls that You Do Not Want? - How to Stop Them

You sit down to a nice meal and the phone rings. The annoying recorded voice launches into a spiel about how you qualify for veterans insurance. You are not a veteran. You return to your meal and half way through, the phone rings again. This time you are congratulated for winning a 'free' trip to Florida that will only cost you $99. Click. Your meal is now cold and your temper is hot.

There is a way to avoid this and similar scenarios. You can place your phone number on the Do Not Call Registry. Up to 3 phone numbers are accepted by the Do Not Call Registry, cell phone numbers included.

If you have done this in the past, it may be time to renew it. Those that registered their numbers on the Do Not Call List in 2002, when the registry was started, need to do it again, since it was only good for 5 years. If you have a new phone number now, or just never got around to registering in 2002, now is the time to do it.

Many frauds and scams are perpetuated through the telephone by con artists, targeting mainly the elderly. Stopping the scams at the point of entry will protect the most vulnerable.

Once you have registered your phone number, it typically takes 31 days for the telemarketing companies to receive the most up to date list. If a telemarketer should call during those first 31 days after you register, let them know that your number has been registered on the Do Not Call Registry and they should remove you from their call list.

The Federal government created the national registry to make it easier and more efficient for you to stop getting telemarketing calls you don't want. You can register online at WWW.DONOTCALL.GOV or call toll-free, 1-888-382-1222 from the number you wish to register. Registration is free and will stop most, not all, of the telemarketer's phone calls.

After that initial 31 day period, if you are still receiving those annoying telemarketing calls, complaints can be made to www.donotcall.gov

For more information, you can also contact your local Area Agency on Aging at 1-866-55-AGING.