A directory of cell phone numbers will soon be published and all consumers, TELEMARKETERS, will have access to it.

The Federal Trade Commission has set up a 'do not call list'.

You must call from the cell phone that you want to register.

The number is 1-888-382-1222 or you can go to their web site at http://www.donotcall.gov/ and add your number.

We registered our home phones last year and the telemarketers stopped almost immediately.

I don't know if the above telephone number is just for California as it mentioned the California State Attorney General.

The web site, at least, is not state-specific. I registered my phones and my kids'. Since there is no verification of identity, I could have gone on an registered every cell phone number in my entire phone book.

Well, most telemarketing firms use autodialers to determine if a number is "real" or not, and that is still illegal.

That does seem odd that they insist that you call from your cell, but that anyone can register online. As I said above, the telemarketers' calls went from 3 or 4 a day to nothing almost immediately. The few that I did get, I reported the numbers and never heard from them again.

Have any of you received calls from them on your cells? I've only had mine for a few months and I have never received any calls.

I've had a cell phone for more than 5 years, from 3 different providers, and have never received a telemarketing call on any of them. But if there's going to be a cell-phone directory, that could all change.

I could be wrong (would not be the last time!) but I read a couple of months ago that cellphone users would have to agree to have their cellphone #'s listed in the directory vs having to opt out. Maybe this has changed. Perhaps we should all call our cellphone companies to find out what the situation is.

I had heard somewhere that such a directory was forthcoming, but wasn't sure when. The 'do not call' info above came from the December issue of the San Francisco Police Officers Assn. Journal. It was written by their Consumer Affairs reporter, so I know that it is correct.

Anything to stop those ##$#%%^&&*(%$% telemarketers.

Agree with Anon - we have 4 cell phones in family and have tried 3 different carriers over the years - never a telemarketing call. Not saying I want one - and will certainly register phones on Do Not Call list - I love the home version of list since we can actually eat dinner without hearing about time shares, vinyl siding, etc.

Go to www.snopes.com and check out the story on this. I try to check out most on Snopes before I send anything on to friends. Most *stuff* I get can't pass the test and are hoaxes.

Thank you Nina.
And now is there any way we could stop all junk mail getting to our mail box? Just last week I think we got 5 or 6 preapproved credit cards applications.

gail:

What is the number for the "home" version of this list?

Thanks.
Sandy

Hi Sandy,
it's the same- www.donotcall.gov...I verified on there my home numbers were still listed from when I registered them a few years ago, and registed mine and my parents cell numbers...

Wednesday - thanks very much. Will register our phone. Perhaps our answering machine won't get so clogged up with these type of calls.

Sandy

For those who may not be familiar with snopes to follow mamajo's advice, read this link:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/cell411.asp

You should not be at risk of anything unless your cell phone company is one of the 6 involved in the directory plan, and then only if you specifically give them permission to list you.

incognito -

Contact the DMA and request your wishes.
Direct Marketing Ass'n.