Office of Consumer Affairs
Consumer Factsheet
Stop Telemarketing calls
STOP Unsolicited
Telemarketing Calls and Mail
If you want to stop calls from annoying telemarketers, then you need to sign up on the NATIONAL NO CALL REGISTRY. There is no cost to sign up your home and personal cellular telephone numbers. Your telephone number(s) will stay on the registry until you remove your number from the registry or change your telephone number. To register your telephone number(s) call the National Do Not Call Registry’s toll-free telephone number at (888) 382-1222, for TTY – (866) 290-4236 or register online at www.donotcall.gov.
There are exceptions to remember. Businesses you have an established relationship with are not required to follow the do not call rules. They can call you for up to 18 months from your last purchase, payment, or delivery. Companies you have made an inquiry or submitted an application can call you for up to 3 months, but if you ask a company not to call you, the company must honor your request. Calls regarding political and religious speech are also not subject to the do not call rules as are callers soliciting charitable contributions.
Credit
Bureaus
The three national consumer credit reporting agencies offer a toll-free
number that enables you to “opt-out” from receiving pre-screened credit or
insurance offers sent to you for up to 5 years or permanently, and you may
opt back in at any time by calling the same number. Call (888) 567-8688 or
register online at
www.optoutprescreen.com.
Privacy
Notices
Take time to read the privacy notice inserts that are enclosed with your
monthly bill or statement from credit card companies, insurance companies,
brokerage firms, or banks. These notices outline the steps you must take if
you want to “opt-out,” that is limit the sharing of your customer data by
them with third parties. The term “opt-out” means that unless and until
you inform the company you do not want them to share or sell your
customer data to other companies; they are free to do so.
Direct
Marketing
The Direct Marketing Associations (DMA) Mail Preference Service lets you
“opt-out” of receiving direct mail marketing from many national companies
for 5 years. When you register with this service, your name will be put on
a “delete” file and made available to direct-mail marketers. However, your
registration will not stop mailings from organizations that are not
registered with DMA’s Mail Preference Service. To register with DMA, send
your name, address, and request to be put on their list to:
Direct
Marketing Association, Mail Preference Service, PO Box 643, Carmel, NY 10512
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Summit County Office of Consumer Affairs 175 South Main Street, Suite 209 Akron, OH 44308 |
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