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Key Facts
- Federal level: Home and cell phone numbers can be registered free through the National Do Not Call Registry.
- Federal level: Registration does not expire unless the number is disconnected and reassigned or the subscriber asks to remove it.
- Federal level: The registry restricts covered sales calls but does not technically block calls or stop scammers who ignore the law.
- Federal level: Covered telemarketers generally must use registry data obtained no more than 31 days before making a call.
The National Do Not Call Registry is the federal no-call list for personal telephone numbers. It tells covered telemarketers not to place sales calls to registered numbers, but it is not a call-blocking service.
How to add a number to the no-call list
Register at DoNotCall.gov or call 888-382-1222 from the telephone number being registered. Online registration requires clicking the confirmation link sent by email within 72 hours.
A cell phone number is eligible and is treated the same as a home phone number once listed. Business telephone numbers and fax lines are not covered by the consumer registry.
The number should appear on the registry the next day, but the FTC says it can take up to 31 days for covered sales calls to stop. Registration does not need annual renewal.
What registration does and does not cover
The registry is aimed at unwanted sales calls from companies that follow federal telemarketing rules. FTC guidance identifies political calls, charitable calls, debt-collection calls, purely informational calls, and surveys as categories allowed under its registry rules when the call does not also include a sales pitch.
A company may also have a basis to call after a recent business relationship or written permission, subject to the governing rule. Even then, the FTC says the company must stop if the consumer directly asks it not to call.
Different federal requirements govern artificial or prerecorded voice calls. A sales robocall generally requires the consumer’s prior written permission, whether or not the number is on the registry.
Why calls can continue after registration
The list does not prevent a call from reaching a telephone. Illegal callers and scammers may disregard it, and caller ID information can be spoofed.
Call-blocking and call-labeling tools can therefore complement registration. The related robocalls guide explains the difference between a recorded call, a lawful informational message, and a suspicious sales pitch.
A direct request creates a separate no-call record
FCC rules require covered callers to maintain company-specific do-not-call procedures. A caller receiving a qualifying request must record it when made, honor it within a reasonable time not exceeding 10 business days, and maintain the request for five years.
Write down the date, time, caller name, seller, caller ID number, and the date of any direct stop-calling request. These details can help distinguish a registry complaint from a company-specific request.
How to report an unwanted call
For an unwanted call without a financial loss, the FTC directs consumers to the reporting form at DoNotCall.gov. A useful report includes the receiving number, the caller ID number even if it may be spoofed, any callback number, and the date and time.
If money was lost or the call was part of a scam, the FTC directs reports to ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The broader guide on how to report a scam explains what records to preserve.
The FCC also accepts unwanted-call and text complaints. Its complaint page explains that individual complaints inform enforcement and policy work but are not individually resolved by the FCC.
Federal and state rules may overlap
The national registry operates under federal law, including the Telemarketing Sales Rule and FCC rules implementing the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. State telemarketing laws may provide additional restrictions or complaint channels, so the caller, called number, and location can matter.
Sources
- FTC National Do Not Call Registry FAQs
- National Do Not Call Registry
- 16 C.F.R. 310.4 telemarketing practices
- 47 C.F.R. 64.1200 calling restrictions
- 15 U.S.C. 6155 on registry duration
- FCC unwanted calls and texts complaint information
- FTC guide to stopping unwanted calls
- FTC guide to Telemarketing Sales Rule compliance
