by Sarah E. Sanuth

Created on: August 15, 2008   Last Updated: January 07, 2009

We all hate to receive phone calls that we don't want or for someone to call us to try and get money from us somehow, especially if we are in the middle of something important or precious, such as time.

Now there is a way to stop the madness. The Federal Trade Commission set up the National Do Not Call Registry for this purpose.

The theory is that all you have to do is call a number or go to a website and enter your phone number and the calls will stop. However, there are some small rules that need to be applied in order for it to work properly.

By simply calling 1-888-382-1222, you can enter your phone number and have it added to the list. For this to work, you must call from the phone number you are registering. If you call from a different number, there aren't any prompts for you to enter a phone number.

You can also go to the website, www.donotcall.gov, and enter your phone number. Once you are on the website simply click on "Register A Phone Number" on the left hand side. This will bring you to a page where you can enter your phone number and email address. You may enter up to three numbers here. Once you have completed the form simply click "submit".

Once you have done this you will be brought to a page that will tell you to confirm the information that you entered to make sure it is correct. If it is correct click "Register." If it is not, click change so that you can go back to correct it.

Next you will have to check your email to verify that you have added the phone numbers. It can take up to a few minutes to receive the email. Once you have checked your email and clicked on the link in the email, you will be brought to page that will tell you that the number in question has been entered properly. You will receive a separate email for each phone number that you have entered. Be sure to click the link in each email otherwise it will not be added to the list.

It is a very simple process for someone to do; there really isn't much to it.

There are some things that need to be considered when trying to take part in this service. Adding your telephone number to this list will only prevent those companies that you have no business relationship with from contacting you. Anyone who you have inquired to can contact you for three months and anyone who you have done business with can contact you for up to 18 months and charities, survey and political organizations can contact you all they want. For those that are not required to follow this law, you must personally request that you be added to their do not call list. Any company that you request that you be added to the do-not-call list (which is just an internal list) must remove you from their list within 30-45 days.

Now if you are sitting there wishing that telemarketers and other organizations would stop calling, simply follow the small steps above and you will be on your way to a quieter, less ringing telephone line.

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