This may be questionable information
Sent to me courrtesy of Michael Geiger...
"Urban Legends and Folklore Newsletter
Urban Legends and Folklore
'Do Not Call' List for Cell Phone Users
Netlore Archive: Email flier warns that a directory of cell phone numbers will soon be published and urges users to enter their cell phone numbers on a federal 'do not call' list to prevent unsolicited calls from telemarketers
Description: Email flier
Circulating since: Sep. 2004
Status: Partly true
Analysis: See below
Variant #1:
Email example contributed by Gail E., 14 October 2004:
Cell Phone Directory:
A directory of cell phone numbers will be published soon. This opens the door to solicitors calling our cell phones using up our minutes. The Federal Trade Commission has set up a do not call list. You must call FROM the number you wish to register, or go to their website at
www.donotcall.gov, to be included on the do not call list. The number is 1-888-382-1222.
Variant #2:
Email example contributed by Jason S., 2 December 2004:
For anyone that has a cell phone ....
In a few weeks, cell phone numbers will be released to telemarketing companies and you may start to receive sales calls. Call this number from your cell phone 888-382-1222. Doing so will add your cell phone number to the national "Do Not Call" list. It should block your number from telemarketing calls for 5 years.
Variant #3:
Email example contributed by Paul T., 9 December 2004:
Subject: Fwd: FW: Cell phone telemarketing
Thought you guys could use this information!!
PASS IT ON!!!
Starting Jan 1, 2005, all cell phone numbers will be made public to telemarketing firms. So this means as of Jan 1, your cell phone may start ringing off the hook with telemarketers, but unlike your home phone, most of you pay for your incoming calls. These telemarketers will eat up your free minutes and end up costing you money in the long run.
According to the National Do Not Call List, you have until Dec. 15th 2004 to get on the national "Do not call list" for cell phones. They said that you need to call 1-888-382-1222 from the cell phone that you wish to have put on the "do not call list" to be put on the list. They also said you can do it online at
www.donotcall.gov
Registering only takes a minute, is in effect for 5 years and will possibly save you money (definitely frustration)! Make sure you register now!
Comments: While it's true that the major wireless phone providers (with the exception of Verizon) have announced their intention to establish a 411 directory of customers' cell phone numbers beginning in late 2005, it is not true that they plan to "publish" said directory for any and all to read. Participating companies say the numbers will be made available only with customer consent and only via telephone to users who dial directory assistance and pay a fee.
The companies swear the numbers will never be available to telemarketers.
Not everyone believes that, however, as evidenced by a privacy protection bill already introduced in Congress which would modify the plan to allow 411 callers to be directly connected to requested parties without the latter's phone numbers being given out.
Per FCC regulations, telemarketers are already prohibited from calling cell phone numbers using automated dialers, which are standard in the industry.
Dec. 15th 'deadline' is bogus
In any case, the Federal Trade Commission does allow cell phone users to add their numbers to the National Do Not Call Registry — the same one already in force for landlines — either on the Web or by calling 1-888-382-1222.
Contrary to what some variants of the email rumor claim, there is no December 15, 2004 deadline for adding cell phone numbers to the list — indeed, there is no deadline whatsoever."
Sorry for the confusion.
