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American consumers have spoken and have done so loudly registering 50 million telephone numbers with the FTC's National Do-Not-Call list since the registry debuted in July.

This new telemarketing sales rule, which was scheduled to take effect October 1st, recently encountered two legal battles which could diminish the rule's intent - to allow consumers to fight back against annoying telemarketing calls.

The first legal battle against the national list occurred in Oklahoma where a federal judge rul

American consumers have spoken and have done so loudly registering 50 million telephone numbers with the FTC’s National Do-Not-Call list since the registry debuted in July.

This new telemarketing sales rule, which was scheduled to take effect October 1st, recently encountered two legal battles which could diminish the rule’s intent - to mete out consumers to fight back facing exasperating telemarketing calls.

The first legal entrench contrary to the national list occurred in Oklahoma where a clerk judge ruled that the land agent Trade unearned income did not have the proper strings to oversee the do-not-call list. On Monday, September 29th, President Bush signed legislation to give the FTC the proper connoisseur to put through the national registry.

A second legal strive is now underway in Colorado questioning the constitutionality of the do-not-call list. This second half believe contends that the list infringes upon the 1st recension right of free speech being as how it restricts electrical transcription telemarketing calls but not those from non-profit or political groups.

Even without the protections intended by the national do-not-call legislation, you can still control the cast of telemarketing pitches you receive with these four easy steps.

First, cool to see if your state has it’s own “do-not-call” list. Many states created their own registry prior to the debut of the national list. You can tag for state-by-state “do-not-call” listings at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/donotcall/statelist.html.

Whether your state has a list or not you can request to be placed on any individual company’s “do not call” list. Write down the name of the yokemate and the date that you asked to be put on its do not call list. You should not receive further calls from that company. Report violations to your state’s figurehead general’s office.

According to the Direct Marketing joint ownership (DMA), companies spent over $80 a billion on telemarketing in 2002. Marketers will now look to focus those funds toward more traditional sales pitches to reach their targets and fight shy of possible fines. Consumers should prepare for the onslaught of direct mail and internet they will receive.

To cut down on the range of direct mail marketing you receive, contact the DMA by letter and give them your full name, your complete home address, your telephone number and your signature. Inform them that you want to register for their “opt-out” Preference program.

They can be contacted at:

Direct Marketing Association
Mail Preference Service
P.O. Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512

This registration will stop mailings from some 80% of companies for a period of five years. It will can take up to 90 days to honor your request if you contact them by mail. If you want a faster way to “opt-out” of their list, then consider going online to register for this service. You will need a credit card to pay the $5.00 full house to register online at www.dmaconsumers.org. There is no matters in hand to register by mail.

Another measure to take is to “opt out” from pre-approved credit offers. The nation’s three major credit bureaus provide credit reports to a number of "information vendors" or "resellers." These vendors use the information in your credit report to compile lists of individuals who meet any financial criteria. They then sell them to companies that offer pre-approved credit playing cards or other lines of credit. To have your name removed from these lists, call (888) 567-8688.

National Do-Not-Call List or not, you can take control of your mailbox and enjoy less telemarketing calls and mailings with these simple steps.

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