How telemarketers get around the ‘Do-Not-Call' registry

PITTSBURGH — You're on the National Do-Not-Call Registry, but telemarketers are still calling you.  So, how is it legal?

WPXI's Katherine Amenta found out, you may be agreeing to a lot more than you realize.

The Oravitzes are fed up.  They say they can't stop the telemarketing calls.

“Seems like the National Do-Not-Call Registry doesn’t work,” said Koppel resident Michael Oravitz.

It may seem that way, but I went looking for answers and found out it all comes down to reading the fine print and being proactive.

I went to the Better Business Bureau of Western Pennsylvania and found out there are three ways telemarketers get your phone number.

First, you may be allowing companies to share your information with a third party.

“They are legally able to do so,” said Caitlin Driscoll, public relations director of the Better Business Bureau of Western Pennsylvania.

For example, people give out their phone number when they fill out a credit card application or sign up for a store's extra deals.  They probably aren't reading the terms of the agreement.

“A majority of consumers are guilty of doing that,” said Driscoll.

And that means you might be agreeing to your information getting shared.  The same goes when buying smartphone apps; you have to read the privacy policy.

Second, charity calls, political messages and surveys are all legal.  You can't stop those with the national or state registries.  You have to call them directly and ask to be removed.

The Oravitzes also learned that the time of day plays a role in what's legal.  Most of the calls they get are in the afternoon and that is legal. Telemarketers can only call between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.

And finally, keep in mind, the National Do-Not-Call Registry does not automatically kick in the day you sign up.

A telemarketer has 31 days to remove your name and information from their file.

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