You've added your telephone to the Federal Do Not Call Registry and you are still getting telemarketing calls. So what's going on?

The Federal Do No Call Registry is alive and well. And it does work for most telemarketing calls, however, some manage to slip through the cracks. The calls can seem worse when you have had a bad day, just as you are walking through the door the telephone is ringing. You rush to get the call and it your friendly telemarketer or worse, it is a automatic programmed telemarketer. These are the automatic dialers that give you a sales message, and sadly, you can't say "take me off your list" to a recording.

Can you stop all telemarketing calls? Probably not completely, but you can slow them down to a crawl.

Don't invite telemarketing calls by not reading privacy information that is often included when you sign up for newsletters or order a product online. If you do not read their privacy information you may be agreeing to accept those unwanted telemarketing telephone calls from the company and any number of their subsidiaries or affiliates. Have you ever wondered how and why you get so many catalogs? Some companies may have a half dozen or more catalogs, order from one, get many catalogs from their subsidiaries and affiliates. It works the same with online orders. Most companies allow you to opt out of the mailings; does that eliminate telemarketing calls as well? I am not sure, but it pays to read the privacy notice and follow the opt out directions. If you receive a catalog and the address looks familiar, more than likely your address and telephone number is on the master list of the "XYZ" company and its affiliates, etc.

Is telemarketer a bad word? As a direct seller since 1995 I say no, but the word has become one because many telemarketers (the new breed?) are often overly aggressive and will not take no for answer. Still they are supposed to remove your name from their list at your request. Next time, do not just slam the your telephone down mid-spiel; instead, listen long enough to get a name. Write down the caller's name, the name of the company, the date and time of the call and the telephone number. Then if you feel the need to report the caller you have the proper information to pass on to the Do Not Call Registry. Many times you are given a false name but if you have the date, time and number the call may be traceable. According to the National Do Not Call Registry "You may also file a complaint if you received a call that used a recorded message instead of a live person (whether or not your number was on the Registry)."

See Do Not Call Registry: How to file a complaint for more information.