INFORMATION FOR CONSUMERS

Q: Why would I register my phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry?

A: The National Do Not Call Registry gives you an opportunity to limit the telemarketing calls you receive. After you register your phone number, most telemarketers will be required to remove your number from their call lists within three months. The listing of your residential telephone number in the Registry will significantly reduce the number of unsolicited telephone calls made to your home.

The National Do Not Call Registry is managed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency. The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has partnered with the FTC to allow South Dakota Consumers to sign up once for both the National Do Not Call Registry and the South Dakota Do Not Call Registry.

How Do I Register?

Q: How do I register my phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry?

A. You may register by calling 1-888-382-1222 from the residential telephone or personal cell phone that you wish to have placed on the register. Or you may register via the internet at www.donotcall.gov.

Q: Can I register my personal cell phone number?

A: Yes. Personal cell phone numbers may be included on the Do Not Call Register.

Q: Can I register all my family and friends?

A: No. You should register only your own telephone numbers.

Q: I have more than one personal telephone number. How can I register more than one number?

A: You may register up to three telephone numbers at one time on the National Do Not Call Registry website. If you have more than three personal telephone numbers, you will have to go through the registration process more than once to register all of your numbers. There is a limit on the number of phone numbers you can register in this manner.

You can only register one phone number each time you call the National Do Not Call Registry. You must call from the phone number you wish to register.

Q: What happens if I register more than one number at a time online?

A: You will get an email for each number you register online. You need to open each email and click on the link in each email within 72 hours to register those numbers.

Q: Can I register my business phone number?

A: No. The Do Not Call Registry is only for personal phone numbers. Business to business calls are not covered by the Do Not Call Registry.

Q: Why do you need my email address if I register online?

A: When you use the registry's website to put a number on the National Do Not Call Registry, the FTC will send you an email as part of the registration process. You need to click on the link in the email within 72 hours to finalize your registration. The FTC will also email you if you request to verify or delete your registration online. Your email address will not be provided to telemarketers or the public.

Q: Can I register online if I do not have an active email address?

A: No. The online registration process requires an active email address. If you register online, the FTC will send you an email message with a link in it. You need to click on the link in the email within 72 hours to finalize your registration. If you do not have an email address, you can register by phone.

Q: Can I reply to the email I got when I was registering?

A: No. The email address is a one-way mail service. It cannot accept incoming emails.

Q: What if my email address changes after I register? Will I still be able to verify my registration or delete my phone number from the national registry?

A: Yes, you will be able to use your new email address to verify or delete your phone number online.

How Does Registration Work?

Q: How soon after I register will I notice a reduction in calls?

A: Although your phone number will show up on the Registry the next day, telemarketers will have 31 days to remove your number from their lists.

Q: If I registered by phone, will I receive a confirmation?

A: No, but you can verify that your number is on the registry online or by calling the registry's toll-free number.

Q: I received a phone call from someone offering to put my name on the National Do Not Call Registry. Should I let them?

A: No. The FTC will not allow private companies or other such third parties to "pre-register" consumers for the National Do Not Call Registry. Websites or phone solicitations that claim they can or will register a consumer's name or phone number on a national list - especially those that charge a fee - are a scam. Consumers are able to register directly, or through some state governments, but never private companies. The Do Not Call Registry is a free service.

When Does My Registration Expire?

Q: How long does my phone number stay registered?

A: Your phone number will remain on the registry permanently from the date you register (unless you choose to take it off the registry or until you change phone numbers.). If you register online, you may want to print the web page when your registration is accepted for your records.

What If I Move or My Phone Is Disconnected?

Q: I moved and got a new phone number. Do I need to register the new number?

A: Yes, you need to register the new phone number.

Q: Do I need to take my old phone number off the list when I get a new number?

A: No. You can if you would like to, but the system will automatically remove numbers that are disconnected for any reason.

Q: What happens if my phone number is disconnected and then reconnected?

A: If your phone number is disconnected for any reason, and then reconnected, you will need to re-register. For example, if you have a vacation home and you disconnect the service for the months you are not there or if your phone service is disconnected because of a billing issue, you will need to re-register that phone number when service is re-established. Each time you re-register, telemarketers have up to another 31 days to take your number off their call lists.

Q: If I decide I no longer want my number to be on the National Do Not Call Registry, how long does it take after I delete my phone number for it to be deleted from the National Do Not Call Registry?

A: After you delete your phone number, it will be removed from the National Do Not Call Registry by the next day. But telemarketers have up to 31 days to access information about your deletion and add your number back to their call lists, if they choose to.

I'm Having Problems with Registration

Q: I called to register my phone number, but the message said my phone number could not be verified. Why not?

A: When you call to register a phone number, you are asked to enter the number you are calling from. The system tries to match the number you enter to "Automatic Number Identification" or ANI, which is like Caller ID for the telephone network. A small percentage of U.S. phones do not have ANI. If your phone doesn't, the system will have trouble locating your phone number. You can register your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry website.

Q: I called to register my phone number, but the message said that the phone number I was calling from did not match the phone number I entered. What happened?

A: To register, you must call from the phone you want to register. For example, you cannot register your home phone number by calling from work.

Also, people in certain communities — such as senior living centers or university residences — have phone numbers that are hidden by a PBX (private branch exchange) telephone system and cannot be matched by the National Do Not Call system. If you live in such a community, you can register your phone number on the registry's website using the register page.

Q: I am still having problems registering.

A: If you are unable to register, please contact the PUC at 1-800-332-1782 and we will assist you.

Will All Telemarketing Calls Stop If I Register?

Q: If I register my number on the National Do Not Call Registry, will it stop all telemarketing calls?

A: No. Placing your number on the National Do Not Call Registry will stop most, but not all, telemarketing calls. You may still receive calls from political organizations, charities, telephone surveyors, or companies with which you have an existing business relationship.

Q: I get calls soliciting money for political organizations or for charities — will the National Do Not Call Registry stop those calls?

A: Political solicitations and tax-exempt nonprofit organizations are not covered by the National Do Not Call Registry.

Q: What about telephone surveys?

A: If the call is really for the sole purpose of conducting a survey, it is not covered. Only telemarketing calls are covered by the national laws B that is, calls that solicit sales of goods or services. Callers purporting to take a survey, but also offer to sell goods or services, must comply with the National Do Not Call Registry.

South Dakota law covers calls that solicit a sale of any consumer goods or service, extension of credit for consumer goods or services, or obtaining information for the direct solicitation of a sale of consumer goods or services or an extension of credit.

Q: My number is on the National Do Not Call Registry. After I bought something from a company, a telemarketer representing that organization called me. Is this a violation?

A: No. Even if you put your number on the National Do Not Call Registry, a company with which you have an established business relationship may call you for up to 18 months after your last purchase or delivery from it, or your last payment to it. Also, if you make an inquiry to a company or submit an application to it, for three months afterwards the company can call you. If you make a specific request to that company not to call you, however, then the company may not call you, even if you have an established business relationship with that company.

Q: Are telemarketing calls from overseas covered?

A: Yes. Any telemarketers calling U.S. consumers are covered, regardless of where they are calling from. If a company within the U.S. solicits sales through an overseas professional telemarketer, that U.S. company is liable for any violations by the telemarketer. The FTC can initiate enforcement actions against such companies.

The South Dakota Do Not Call law covers telephone solicitation calls originating from South Dakota or elsewhere. The PUC will work in harmony with the FTC and FCC to investigate complaints and to cooperate in enforcement action.

Other Ways to Limit Telemarketing Calls

Q: I'm happy to have the choice to limit telemarketing contacts, but there are some telemarketing calls I don't mind receiving. Is there a way to allow only certain companies to call?

A: Yes. If you give a company your written permission to call you, the company may do so even if you have placed your number on the National Do Not Call Registry.

Q: If I don't want to put my number on the National Do Not Call Registry, can I still stop telemarketers from calling?

A: Yes. Even if you do not register with the National Do Not Call Registry, you can still prohibit individual telemarketers, one by one, from calling, by asking them to put you on their company's do not call list.

If you do ask a company to place you on the company's do not call list, but the company continues to call you, the Attorney General's office can assist you. You may file complaints by calling the Office of Attorney General, Division of Consumer Protection, at www.state.sd.us/attorney or by calling 1-800-300-1986.

Filing a Do Not Call Complaint

Q: Why would I file a do not call complaint?

A: If your number has been on the National Do Not Call Registry for at least 31 days and you receive a call from a telemarketer that you believe is covered by the National Do Not Call Registry, you can file a complaint with the PUC, FTC, and/or FCC. To file a complaint, you must know either the name or telephone number of the company that called you, and the date the company called you.

Q: How do I file a do not call complaint? What do I need to file a complaint?

A: You may file a complaint with the PUC online at www.sddonotcall.com or by phoning 1-800-332-1782. You must know either the name or the phone number of the company that called you. You must also provide the date the company called you and your registered phone number.

You may also file a complaint online with the FTC by going to https://www.donotcall.gov/Complain/ComplainCheck.aspx You must know either the name or the phone number of the company that called you. You also must provide the date that the company called you and your registered phone number. You may provide your name and address, but it's not required for you to submit a complaint. You may also call the registry's toll-free number.

You may also file a complaint with the FCC by e-mail (donotcall@fcc.gov), telephone 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY, or mail. Your complaint should include: name, address, and telephone number where you can be reached during the business day; the telephone number involved with the complaint; and as much specific information as possible, including the identity of the telemarketer or company contacting you, the date on which you put your number on the National Do Not Call Registry or made a company-specific do-not-call request, and the date(s) of any subsequent telemarketing call(s) from that telemarketer or company. If mailing a complaint, send it to: Federal Communications Commission, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554.

Q: What happens to my complaint?

A: After receiving a complaint from a South Dakota consumer, the PUC will investigate the complaint. The PUC will be able to check if a South Dakota consumer is registered and the date of the consumer's registration on the National Do Not Call Registry. The PUC also has access to all of the telemarketer registration information. After completing its investigation, the PUC will contact you with the results and will discuss any further action that may be taken. If the telemarketer appears to be in violation of South Dakota law, the matter may be brought to the PUC for enforcement action. A telemarketer can be fined up to $5,000 for each occurrence.

If you file a complaint with the FTC, the complaint will be entered into the Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies worldwide. While the FTC and FCC does not resolve individual consumer problems, your complaint will help the FTC or FCC investigate the company, and could lead to law enforcement action.

Q: What if I get a telemarketing call, but can't get the telemarketer's name or phone number?

A: In order to take action on your complaint, you must provide either the telemarketer's name or phone number. If you want to report a do not call violation, please get that information. The name or phone number of the telemarketer is necessary to verify the violation.

What About the Privacy of My Information?

Q: If I choose to register my phone number, what personal information will be kept in the national registry, and how will it be used?

A: The only personal identifying information that will be shared with telemarketers is the phone number you register. Your email address will be stored separately and securely. It will not be accessible by others outside the FTC once the FTC sends a reply message to you. Law enforcement officials may access the phone numbers as part of investigations.

If your phone number is removed from the National Do Not Call Registry, it will be available to the FTC and law enforcement officials for two years from the date of removal. Your phone number may be removed from the Registry because it was disconnected, or you asked for it to be deleted.

The PUC will use telephone information provided by consumers to investigate complaints.