Pennsylvania Attorney General Corbett Announces Kick-Off Of Statewide Do Not Call Re-Registration

August 1, 2007 -- HARRISBURG - Five years ago, the Pennsylvania Do Not Call law went into effect and allowed consumers, for the first time, to significantly reduce the unsolicited and unwanted telemarketing calls they received at home. The Office of Attorney General is responsible for enforcing the Do Not Call law and handling registrations. One million Pennsylvanians registered for the list in the first two weeks alone, and now it is time to re-register.

Attorney General Tom Corbett explained that registration on the Do Not Call list is only valid for five years from the date of initial registration. Consumers who were among the first group to register in 2002 must re-register by Sept. 15, 2007, or their number will be dropped from the Do Not Call registry on Nov. 1, 2007.

By the end of September 2002, more than two million people were registered on the Do Not Call list. That number has continued to grow through the last five years and now there are close to four million registered Pennsylvanians.

Corbett explained that Pennsylvania's Do Not Call law was created to keep up with consumers' mobility. Re-registration keeps the list as current as possible, since people move and phone numbers change.

Telemarketers must purchase the Do Not Call list on a quarterly basis each year and they have 30 days to remove the names and numbers from their own call lists.

Consumers who were among the first two million Pennsylvanians to register in the summer and early fall of 2002 may re-register online at www.attorneygeneral.gov, by calling the toll-free hotline at 1-888-777-3406, or by mailing their name, mailing address, telephone number and signature to the Attorney General's Office.

Corbett said that there is an added registration feature that is only available on the website, which allows consumers to verify their enrollment to find out when they first registered for the list. Online registrants will also be able to read Frequently Asked Questions, which explain the Do Not Call list and its functions.

Corbett noted that each person who registers is allowed to include up to seven residential and wireless telephone numbers.

8-1-07-DNC4-366x244"It is important to remember that although your number may be registered with the Do Not Call list there are exceptions under the law that allow telemarketers to call your home," Corbett said. These exceptions include calls from:

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Telemarketers who have had an established business relationship with you within 12 months preceding the call.
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Tax-exempt charitable organizations, veterans' organizations chartered by the U.S. Congress and calls made on behalf of a political candidate or political party.
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Telemarketers calling at the express request of the residential telephone customer.

Corbett said that the law also prohibits telemarketers from blocking their telephone numbers from a person's caller ID device.

Telemarketers who violate the provisions of the law could face a civil penalty of $1,000 per violation. The penalty could be increased to $3,000 if the call is placed to a person age 60 or older who is registered on the Do Not Call list.

"Whether you are re-registering for the list or using this opportunity to register for the very first time, the Pennsylvania Do Not Call list provides citizens with a great way to keep their phone lines free of unwanted telemarketing calls - and their dinners peaceful once again," Corbett said. "I encourage everyone to visit our website and register today."

Consumers who are on the Do Not Call list and feel that they have received a telemarketing call that is not exempt can file a complaint with the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection online at www.attorneygeneral.gov or by calling 1-888-777-3406.

Source: Pennsylvania Attorney General

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