The National Do Not Call Registry: what it does and doesn't stop

The National Do Not Call Registry is free, takes two minutes and lasts forever. It won't stop scammers (they're breaking the law anyway), but it does take legitimate telemarketers off your back, which makes the illegal calls stand out.

How to register

• Online: go to donotcall.gov, enter up to three numbers and your email address, then click the confirmation link in the email within 72 hours. You get a separate email for each number.
• By phone: call 1-888-382-1222 (TTY 1-866-290-4236) from the phone you want to register.

Cell phones and home phones can both be registered. You can check whether a number is already on the list at the same website. Registration is free. Anyone who charges you to "register" or "renew" is running a scam.

Does it expire?

No. A registration never expires. The FTC only removes a number if it's disconnected and reassigned to someone else, or if you ask to have it removed. Despite rumors that circulate every few years, you don't need to re-register.

The 31-day rule

Your number usually shows up on the Registry the next day, but telemarketers get up to 31 days to update their call lists. If you're still getting sales calls more than a month after registering, those calls are breaking the rules.

Who can still call you

The Registry covers sales calls. These can still call a registered number:

• Political campaigns and groups (see political calls and texts).
• Charities, as long as they're asking for donations rather than selling. If a charity uses a paid telemarketing company, you can ask to be put on that charity's own do-not-call list, and they have to honor it.
• Surveys and polls, as long as there's no sales pitch.
• Debt collectors and purely informational calls, like a flight change or appointment reminder.
• Companies you do business with. A seller can call for up to 18 months after your last purchase, payment or delivery, and for 3 months after you contact them with a question.
• Companies you gave written permission to call you.

Even these callers have limits. If you tell a company to stop calling, including one you do business with, it has to stop. Write down the date and the company's name when you ask.

What about robocalls?

Sales calls that use a recorded message generally need your prior written permission, whether or not your number is on the Registry. So if you answer and hear a recording trying to sell you something, it's almost certainly illegal. If it's from a company you've never heard of, it's very likely a scam.

What the Registry can't do

• It doesn't block calls. It's a list legitimate telemarketers must check. Nothing physically stops a call to your number.
• Scammers ignore it. Fake auto warranty, Medicare, IRS and "your account is locked" calls come from people who don't care about the rules, and often from overseas with spoofed numbers.
• It doesn't cover texts from scammers any better than calls. Forward those to 7726.

For the calls the Registry can't stop, add call blocking and screening: see how to stop robocalls.

How to complain

If a telemarketer calls after 31 days, or you get a sales robocall, file a complaint at donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222. Include:

• the number that called, even if you suspect it's fake;
• the date and time;
• the company name, if they gave one, and any callback number;
• whether it was a recording or a live person.

If you lost money or handed over personal information, report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov instead. More options in how to report scam calls.

Does complaining do anything?

Complaints feed into the FTC's database, which the FTC and other law enforcement agencies use to track down and sue illegal callers. The FTC also shares complaint numbers with carriers and others working on blocking. Its Do Not Call Data Book for fiscal year 2025 reported over 258 million active registrations and more than 2.6 million Do Not Call complaints, with reducing debt, impostors and medical and prescription calls among the most-reported topics. The complaints people file about a number also appear on that number's ShadyCall page.

Common questions

Do I need to register my cell phone separately?

Yes, register every number you want covered. There's no separate cell phone list, and there's no deadline.

Can businesses be put on the Registry?

The Registry is meant for personal numbers. Business-to-business sales calls generally aren't covered.

Is there a fee?

Never. Ignore any call or email offering to register you for a fee.