I have a question about the Kentucky Attorney General’s No Call List, to which I added my telephone number a few years ago. Lately I seem to be getting a lot of solicitation calls, particularly fund-raising calls, from which I thought I was being shielded. Also, during the primary season, I was inundated with pre-recorded political calls. Does the No Call List even exist anymore and, if so, what are its limitations?

From the Kentucky Attorney General: As of June 26, 2007, the Kentucky No Call List will be maintained by the National Do Not Call Registry. According to the Registry, phone numbers are on the no call list permanently. The Federal Trade Commission, which manages the Registry, has helpful information explaining the details of who can call and who cannot. Among those who are permitted to call: political organizations.

From the FTC:

“Because of limitations in the jurisdiction of the FTC and FCC, calls from or on behalf of political organizations, charities, and telephone surveyors would still be permitted, as would calls from companies with which you have an existing business relationship, or those to whom you’ve provided express agreement in writing to receive their calls.

“Political solicitations are not covered by the TSR (Telemarketing Sales Rule) at all, since they are not included in its definition of ‘telemarketing.’ Charities are not covered by the requirements of the national registry. However, if a third-party telemarketer is calling on behalf of a charity, a consumer may ask not to receive any more calls from, or on behalf of, that specific charity. If a third-party telemarketer calls again on behalf of that charity, the telemarketer may be subject to a fine of up to $11,000.”

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