Terry Goddard Reminds Consumers of Cell Phone Policy on 'Do Not Call' Registry

(Phoenix, AZ) Attorney General Terry Goddard today advised Arizona consumers not to worry if they receive an email warning them that telemarketers will soon be calling their cell phones.

Consumers have started to receive emails that read something like this:

JUST A REMINDER...In a few weeks, cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sale calls. YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS... To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone: 888.382.1222 or register your phone number on line with the FTC.

"It is untrue that telemarketers will be getting a list of Arizona cell phone numbers to call," Goddard said. "Federal law protects consumers using wireless phones from telemarketers through the Telephone Consumer Protection Act."

More than 448,000 Arizonans have registered their phone numbers with the federal Do Not Call list. If you would like to join those consumers:

  • Visit the Federal Trade Commission's Web site at www.donotcall.gov and then click on "Register a Number" or
  • Call FTC 1.888.382.1222 (TTY 1.866.290.4236). Consumers who sign up by telephone need to call from the telephone number that they want to add to the list.

"You can register your cell phone if you wish," Goddard said. "But there is little likelihood of telemarketers getting your cell number."

Registrations are active for five years, and there are no cut-off dates or any deadlines for registering a phone number. Once your number has been on the Registry for three months, you can reasonably expect to see a dramatic reduction in unwanted telemarketer calls.

Goddard reminded consumers that some calls are not covered by the Registry, and a consumer may continue to get calls from:

  • political organizations
  • telephone surveyors or pollsters
  • calls from companies with whom you have had an existing business relationship
  • calls from companies you have given permission to call you

If your number has been on the registry for at least three months, and a telemarketer calls, you can file a complaint with the FTC either on line at www.donotcall.gov or calling 1.888.382.1222 (TTY 1.866.290.4236). You'll need to provide the date of the call and the phone number or name of the company that called you.

For more information on this and other important consumer topics, please visit the Arizona Attorney General's Web site at www.azag.gov.