jackiedoherty.org

If you’re like me, you hate getting calls from telemarketers, yet find it hard to be rude to them, which can make it difficult to get off the line. (They’re just folks trying to make a living, right?) Since getting caller identification, this problem has greatly reduced our dinnertime interruptions although the phone still rings; we simply don’t pick up (unless I forget or get curious about a number). Last week, my niece emailed me that cell phone numbers are now going to be included in a public database too, making them subject to telemarketers. Turns out, this isn’t true according to information cited on the national Do Not Call Registry: “FCC regulations prohibit telemarketers from using automated dialers to call cell phone numbers. Automated dialers are standard in the industry, so most telemarketers don’t call consumers on their cell phones without their consent.”

Even so, I decided to block my home and cell phone numbers by calling the registry, which is managed by the Federal Trade Commission, at 888-382-1222. You can also block your phone number online. The whole process took less than 30 seconds—well worth it if prevents those annoying calls.