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Kokua Line
June Watanabe
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Cell phones immune from sales pitches
Question: Could you confirm if it is necessary to register our cellular phone number at 888-382-1222 before the end of January to prevent telemarketers from calling us on our cell phone? My friend received an e-mail telling her to do this, and another friend said it's a scam.
Answer: It's not necessary.
A friend sent us a similar e-mail recently. Variations of the warning have been circulating at least since September 2004, according to our Internet research.
While there's some truth involved, the warnings are based on inaccurate or misleading information.
The Federal Trade Commission assures you that your cell phone is not "about to be assaulted by telemarketing calls as a result of a new cell phone number database."
It points out that telemarketers are prohibited by federal law from using automated dialers to call cell phones: "Automated dialers are standard in the industry, so most telemarketers are barred from calling consumers on their cell phones without their consent."
In a news release issued April 15, 2005, and posted on its Web site -- www.ftc.gov/opa/2005/04/dnc.htm -- the FTC said cell phone telemarketing "has always been illegal in most cases and will continue to be so."
The warning we received said: "JUST A REMINDER ... 31 days from today, all cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sale calls. YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS. To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone: 888-382-1222. It is the National DO NOT CALL list. It will only take a minute of your time. It blocks your number for five (5) years. ... This is information people don't mind receiving, let people know."
The FTC said another version claims: "The Federal Trade Commission has set up a 'do not call' list. It is called a cell phone registry. To be included on the 'do not call' list, you must call from the number you wish to register."
It is true that the Federal Communications Commission has a National Do Not Call Registry. You can call 888-382-1222 or go online at www.donotcall.gov to register phone numbers and, thus, reduce the number of telemarketing calls.
Registrations take effect 31 days after you sign up and are good for five years. There is NO deadline to register.
There also is NO separate cell phone registry. However, you can add your cell phone number to the National Do Not Call Registry.
You can find out more about the registry at www.fcc.gov.
The FTC says there is talk about establishing a wireless 411 directory, which apparently is causing the confusion and concern about how cell phones might be affected.
You can get information about the planned wireless 411 directory at www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/truthaboutcellphones.html or www.qsent.com/wireless411/index.shtml.
Got a question or complaint? Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered. E-mail to
kokualine@starbulletin.com.
See also: Useful phone numbers