Do Not Call

Illinois Consumers can sign-up online to be placed on a free “no-call” list designed to protect their privacy against unwanted telemarketer calls.  Legislation has been passed which now requires telemarketing firms to purchase call lists.  Consumers can register at the Restricted Call Registry website located at www.donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222.  Exceptions from the list include telephone companies, banks, nonprofit organizations, insurance companies and politicians.  However, if the exempted businesses employ professional telemarketing firms to do sales calls, those calls will be covered by the Federal Trade Commission’s list.  In addition, the FTC may also extend the do-not-call list to many businesses that are exempt from the FTC list.

Telemarketing firms will be required to purchase the no-call list, remove any numbers on the FTC list from their own calling lists and repeat the process every 90 days.  Any telemarketer calling a number on the list could face a fine of up to $11,000 per violation.