Why Do I Keep Getting Sales Calls on My Cell Phone Despite Being on the Do Not Call List?

Being on the Do Not Call list should theoretically stop most telemarketing calls, but there are several reasons why you might still be receiving calls. Understanding these reasons and what you can do about them can help you reduce the number of unwanted calls you receive.

Robocalls and Scammers

Why it happens: Many robocallers and scammers ignore the Do Not Call registry entirely as they are often operating illegally or from outside the country. These calls are automated and can be designed to use deceptive tactics, such as pretending to offer services, requesting personal information, or selling fake products.

What you can do: Report these types of calls to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or your local authorities. You can also use call-blocking apps or services that help filter out robocalls.

Business-to-Business (B2B) Exemption

Why it happens: The Do Not Call list primarily applies to personal residential phones. If your phone number is listed under a business, you may still receive calls from telemarketers offering business services.

What you can do: If you want to avoid these calls on a business line, you can specifically register that number as a business line on the Do Not Call list, or request businesses to stop calling.

Pre-Recorded Messages Robocalls

Why it happens: Certain types of automated calls may not honor the Do Not Call registry. Some companies may be exempt if you’ve previously given them consent to call or if the call is related to a specific type of marketing or service you’ve opted into.

What you can do: Look into robocall-blocking services or apps to help mitigate this issue. You can also report robocall violations to the FTC if you are not receiving calls you have consented to.

Political Charitable or Survey Calls

Why it happens: Calls related to political campaigns, charitable organizations, or surveys are generally exempt from the Do Not Call list. These calls can still come through, even if you’re on the list.

What you can do: You can register your number with the specific organizations to ask them not to call you, but these types of calls are usually not covered by the Do Not Call protections.

Out-of-Date or Incorrect Information

Why it happens: If your phone number was previously listed in a public directory or with companies that still use outdated data, telemarketers may continue to call you. Additionally, if your number was recently assigned to someone else who was previously contacted, the new owner of the number might still receive calls.

What you can do: Ensure that your number is correctly listed on the Do Not Call registry and consider reaching out to your phone provider to report any ongoing issues.

Companies Ignoring the List

Why it happens: Some telemarketing companies simply ignore the Do Not Call registry or try to bypass it by using illegal tactics. They may use spoofed numbers that make it difficult to trace the calls back to the originating source.

What you can do: Reporting these violations to the FTC can help, and using call-blocking technology can prevent many of these calls from getting through. Some phone carriers offer robocall-blocking services, and third-party apps also provide filtering.

Previous Consent or Ongoing Business Relationship

Why it happens: If you’ve previously signed up for services or products with a company, they may have permission to contact you under the legal terms of your agreement.

What you can do: You can request that these companies stop calling you by opting out of communications. Most reputable companies will honor your request to be removed from their call lists.

What You Can Do to Reduce These Calls:

Register your number on the Do Not Call list if you haven’t already. Use call-blocking apps such as RoboKiller, Nomorobo, or Truecaller to block robocalls. Report unwanted calls to the FTC or your local authorities. Ask telemarketers to remove you from their list during any call you do answer. Contact your phone provider for additional services that can block unwanted calls.

Conclusion:

While being on the Do Not Call list reduces the number of telemarketing calls you receive, it doesn’t eliminate them completely, especially when dealing with scammers, robocallers, and other exempt organizations. Using call-blocking technologies and staying vigilant about reporting violations can help minimize these interruptions.