TCPA Lawyer – Stop the Unwanted Calls to Your Phone
TCPA Lawyer – Stop the Unwanted Calls to Your Phone
Have you been receiving unwanted calls or texts on your cell phone? If so, you should contact an experienced TCPA lawyer who can put a stop to the unwanted calls.
Nobody wants to drop everything that they are doing in the middle of their hectic lives to answer phone calls on their cell phone that are unwanted. Unfortunately, these phone calls happen each and every day throughout the year.
National “Do Not Call” Registry
You can ask the caller not to contact your cell phone anymore, but more often than not, that does not stop the calls. You can even register your phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry, which is supposed to stop the unwanted calls after 31 days. Be sure to finalize your request by completing the email verification. You can also call 1-888-382-1222 from the phone that you want to put on the registry. Your phone number will remain on the Do Not Call list until you:
- Remove your phone number from the Do Not Call registry; or
- Give your phone number to a company.
If you do receive a phone call from a telemarketer after your phone number has been on the National Do Not Call Registry for 31 days, you can file a complaint on their website or call 1-888-382-1222. It is important to note that because fax numbers are regulated differently, submitting a fax number to the Do Not Call Registry will not help to stop unwanted faxes.
Who the Do Not Call Registry Won’t Stop
There are several types of businesses that the national Do Not Call Registry will not stop from calling your number. Organizations that are not-for-profit are not required to check the registry. This means that survey companies, charities, and political organizations are still allowed to call you. Companies you have purchased something from can still call you, and if you have made a payment to a company within the last 18 months, that company is permitted to call you, as well.
Under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, most businesses cannot contact you on your cell phone with telemarketing messages that are pre recorded – otherwise known as robocalls – unless you have provided your signed written permission. However, informational and political robocalls are allowed. This means that your bank, healthcare provider, and child’s school can call you with prerecorded messages. If a certain phone number continues to pester you with phone calls, you can try using call blocking.
Fighting Back – The TCPA Law and Legal Representation
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is charged with ensuring that companies follow rules and regulations under the TCPA. Because the majority of unwanted calls that people receive are violations of the TCPA law, you could visit the FCC website and submit a complaint. You can also file a complaint by:
- Phone: 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322); TTY: 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322); ASL Videophone: 1-844-432-2275
- Mail:
Federal Communications Commission
Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20554
When all else fails, you could obtain an experienced TCPA lawyer and take the company that is violating your rights to court. You can be compensated $500 to $1500 for each violation of the TCPA law. This means that every phone call you received is worth:
- $500 for every call that violated the Do Not Call Registry
- $500 for every call that violated the TCPA
- $1500 for every call that you can prove knowingly and willfully violated the TCPA
Beware of Giving Out Your Phone Number
If you sign up for free product offers, sweepstakes, or enter your phone number anywhere online, you are providing permission for companies to contact you. Always pay attention to the fine print and refrain from giving your phone number out if it is not necessary. This can help to ensure that you are not pestered with unwanted calls in the future.
Note: There are callers who will not care about the National Do Not Call Registry, nor will they care if you threaten to sue them in court under the TCPA law. They are often scammers that are trying to take advantage of the people on the other end of the phone. Unfortunately, there is no way to stop their calls, and they usually cannot be taken to court because many are not viable companies. This is why it is crucial not to give any personal information to callers over the phone.
The attorneys at Keogh Law, Ltd. exclusively handle consumer law disputes. Contact us today at (866) 726-1092 for a free consultation.