Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) amended the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) to give consumers a choice about whether they want to receive most telemarketing calls. As of October 1, 2003, it became illegal for most telemarketers or sellers to call a number listed on the National Do Not Call Registry.


Who May or May Not Call?

Who is covered by the National Do Not Call Registry?

The National Do Not Call Registry applies to any plan, program, or campaign to sell goods or services through interstate phone calls. This includes telemarketers who solicit consumers, often on behalf of third party sellers. It also includes sellers who provide, offer to provide, or arrange to provide goods or services to consumers in exchange for payment.

The National Do Not Call Registry does not limit calls by political organizations, charities, or telephone surveyors.

For more information, please see FTC INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTS below.

What about an established business relationship?

A telemarketer or seller may call a consumer with whom it has an established business relationship for up to 18 months after the consumer's last purchase, delivery, or payment—even if the consumer's number is on the National Do Not Call Registry. In addition, a company may call a consumer for up to three months after the consumer makes an inquiry or submits an application to the company. And if a consumer has given a company written permission, the company may call even if the consumer's number is on the National Do Not Call Registry.

One caveat: if a consumer asks a company not to call, the company may not call, even if there is an established business relationship. Indeed, a company may not call a consumer—regardless of whether the consumer's number is on the registry—if the consumer has asked to be put on the company's own do not call list.

For more information, please see FTC INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTS below.


How it Works

How do I access the National Do Not Call Registry?

Online at www.telemarketing.donotcall.gov

How does the National Do Not Call Registry work?

Since January 1, 2005, telemarketers and sellers have been required to search the registry at least once every 31 days and drop from their call lists the phone numbers of consumers who are registered. The dedicated, fully automated and secure Web site at www.telemarketing.donotcall.gov provides this information to telemarketers and sellers.

When an organization accesses the system for the first time, it will have to provide some identifying information, such as Organization Name and Address, assign an Authorized Representative, and provide the Representative's Telephone Number and Email Address to create a profile. If an organization is accessing the registry on behalf of a Client (Seller), the organization may need to identify the Client (or Clients).

The only consumer information organizations are able to access from the national registry is a registrant's telephone number. Consumers' phone numbers are sorted and made available by area code. Each organization accessing registry data may be required to pay an annual fee based on the number of area codes the company accesses.

On subsequent visits to www.telemarketing.donotcall.gov, organizations can download either a complete updated list of numbers from their selected area codes or a more limited list that shows additions or deletions since the last download. They can also use an Interactive Phone Number Search Feature that is designed to allow small volume callers to comply with the Do Not Call requirements of the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) without having to download a potentially large list of all the registered telephone numbers within a particular area.

A consumer who receives a telemarketing call despite being on the registry can file a complaint with the FTC, either online or by calling a toll-free number. Violators could be fined up to $16,000 per incident.


Registry Fees

Fees on the National Do Not Call Registry are based on the number of area codes that are in your subscription. The first five area codes in a subscription are free. After that, each area code costs $59 up to a maximum of $16,228 for all the area codes in the US.

If you add area codes to your subscription during the first six months of your Annual Subscription Period (see below) you will be charged the full price of $59 per area code. If you add area codes during the second six months of your Annual Subscription Period you will be charged half price, or $30 per area code.

The maximum fee does not apply once your subscription is in the second half of the Annual Subscription Period.


Obtaining a Subscription Account Number (SAN)

How do I obtain a SAN?

You must subscribe to area codes in order to have a Subscription Account Number (SAN) issued to your organization. For more information on subscribing go to the topic SUBSCRIBING TO AREA CODES below.


FTC information and documents

Q&A for Telemarketers and Sellers about the Do Not Call Provisions of the FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule

Information on the FTC's Rulemaking for the Final Amended Telemarketing Sales Rule

Business Guidance


Browser Compatibility

What browsers work best with the National Do Not Call Registry Web site?

This Web site has been tested with a variety of systems and web browsers. The most commonly used browsers are Internet Explorer (IE), Firefox, and Google Chrome.

Note: The Federal Trade Commission and the National Do Not Call Registry do not endorse any of the following Web sites, vendors, or software products. This list is provided simply for your convenience.

For Internet Explorer, versions 6.0, 5.5, and 5.0 will work. If you need 6.0 or 5.5 service pack 2, visit the Web site http://www.microsoft.com/ windows/ie/default.asp.

For Firefox, versions 3.6 and 4.0 will both work.

Note: The Browser cipher strength has to be set to 128-bit


Limits on Use

After 1 hour of no activity, your Web site session is automatically logged out. In order to continue using the Web site, you must log in again.

Each organization is limited to one download per file per day for downloads of Full or Change Lists.

For the Interactive Phone Number Search, you may only check for telephone numbers in the area code(s) that are in your subscription.



Organization Functions

Note: An organization must select one of three Organization Functions when they create their profile. Those Organization Functions are:

  • Seller
  • Telemarketer/Service Provider
  • Exempt Organization

Seller—includes any person or business who, in connection with a telemarketing transaction, provides, offers to provide, or arranges for others to provide goods or services to the customer in exchange for consideration. A Seller also may be a Telemarketer, if it is calling on its own behalf, or if it retains one or more Telemarketers to place calls for it. In either case, you should register as a "Seller".

Every Seller should subscribe to subscribe to area codes, pay the appropriate fee, and agree to the certification requirements to receive a Subscription Account Number (SAN) with the National Do Not Call Registry. A Seller may direct a Telemarketer to complete the online subscription process for it, but the Seller must have its own subscription and SAN, separate from the Telemarketer's subscription and SAN.

Telemarketer ("TM")—includes any person or business who, in connection with telemarketing, initiates or receives telephone calls to or from a customer.

  • If a Telemarketer is accessing the registry through a Seller's account, (the Seller by definition is the Telemarketer's Client) the Seller must have its own subscription with the Registry. The Telemarketer may access the Registry on behalf of the Seller at no additional charge if the Telemarketer is authorized by the Seller to use the Seller's SAN. Any applicable fees should be paid by the Seller, or by the Telemarketer on that Seller's behalf. The Telemarketer may use the data it downloads only for that Seller. Telemarketers should understand that every Seller must have its own subscription to the Registry. At the direction of a Seller, a Telemarketer may complete the online subscription process and obtain a SAN for the Seller.
  • If a Telemarketer accesses the registry on its own behalf as well as accessing the registry through a client's account, it may obtain its own SAN by subscribing to area codes for itself and paying its own access fee and agreeing to the certification requirements. However, a Telemarketer may not use Registry data to place calls on behalf of more than one Seller unless each Seller has its own subscription and a SAN. That is, a Telemarketer cannot purchase the list once and then provide the data to all of its Clients who have not paid the appropriate fees to access the Registry.

Service Provider ("SP")—includes any person or business that provides assistance to sellers or telemarketers to engage in telemarketing, such as list brokers and service bureaus.

  • If a Service Provider accesses the registry through a client's account, the client must have its own subscription with the Registry. The Service Provider may access the Registry on behalf of the client at no additional charge if the Service Provider is authorized by the client to use the client's SAN. Any applicable fees should be paid by the client, or by the Service Provider on that client's behalf. The Service Provider may use the data it downloads only for that client. Service Provider should understand that every client must have its own subscription to the Registry. At the direction of a client, a Service Provider may complete the online subscription process and obtain a SAN for the client.
  • If a Service Provider accesses the registry on its own behalf as well as accessing the registry through a client's account, it may obtain its own SAN by subscribing to area codes for itself and paying its own access fee and agreeing to the certification requirements. However, a Service Provider may not use Registry data to place calls on behalf of more than one Seller unless each Seller has its own subscription and a SAN. That is, a Service Provider cannot purchase the list once and then provide the data to all of its Clients who have not paid the appropriate fees to access the Registry.

Exempt Organization ("EO")—includes any person or business that is exempt from both the FTC's and FCC's requirements to access the National Registry, but voluntarily chooses to access the information solely for the purpose of preventing telephone calls to telephone numbers in the National Registry. Exempt Organizations include charities or certain non-profit organizations, organizations engaged in political solicitations or surveys, or Sellers or Telemarketers that call ONLY consumers with whom they have an established business relationship or from whom they have obtained the express written agreement to call. See 16 CFR § 310.4(b)(1)(iii)(B)(i) and (ii). Entities that have been granted tax exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code are not necessarily Exempt Organizations for purposes of the National Do Not Call Registry. See, e.g., FTC v. National Consumer Council, Inc., and FTC v. Debt Management Foundation Services, Inc., at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2005/03/ creditcouncel.htm. There, the FTC successfully challenged the status of a purported nonprofit organization whose role in fact was simply to generate leads for other firms which then charged consumers thousands of dollars in fees for their services. Exempt Organizations must wait three business days following the submission of their request before they may be given access to registered numbers. For more information see EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS, below.


Expanded Definition of Exempt Organizations

What is an Exempt Organization?

In general, an Exempt Organization is not required to access the National Do Not Call Registry, but is allowed access as an Exempt Organization, if one or more of the following is true:

  1. Your organization is not subject to either the FTC's or the FCC's jurisdiction. For example, a non-profit charitable organization may be an Exempt Organization, assuming, of course, that it is truly a non-profit. Entities that have been granted tax exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code are not necessarily Exempt Organizations for purposes of the National Do Not Call Registry. See, e.g., FTC v. National Consumer Council, Inc., and FTC v. Debt Management Foundation Services, Inc., at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2005/03/ creditcouncel.htm
  2. Your organization does not engage in any "telemarketing" or "telephone solicitation" activities, as defined by the FTC and FCC, respectively. For example, survey calls and political polling calls are not covered by the definition of "telemarketing" or "telephone solicitations." An organization that places ONLY these types of calls may be an Exempt Organization.
  3. Your organization qualifies for one or more of the specific exemptions contained in the FTC's and FCC's rules, such as:

    1. you only call to solicit charitable contributions; or
    2. you only call consumers with whom you have an established business relationship; or
    3. you only call consumers from whom you have received written permission to call; or
    4. you only make business-to-business calls.

If you are a for-profit telemarketer, you are NOT an Exempt Organization, even if you call consumers on behalf of an Exempt Organization, such as a non-profit. See, e.g., National Federation of The Blind v. FTC, 420 F.3d 331 (4th Cir. 2005).

Additionally, you must be accessing the National Registry solely to prevent telephone calls to telephone numbers on the National Registry.

Whether your organization is exempt is a decision that requires an understanding of the FTC's and FCC's requirements, as well as your specific business practices. Therefore, whether you should subscribe as an Exempt Organization is a decision you must make. In making this decision, you may wish to consult with an attorney.

If you are not an Exempt Organization and you have nevertheless subscribed to the Registry as an Exempt Organization, you may be subject to civil and/or criminal penalties. If you subscribed as an Exempt Organization by mistake, and wish to withdraw your subscription, please contact the Help Desk.

You may wish to consider the following materials when deciding whether to subscribe to the National Do Not Call Registry as an Exempt Organization:

  • The FTC Act at 15 U.S.C. §§ 41-58 and related case law.
  • The Communications Act at 47 U.S.C. §§ 151-757 and related case law.
  • The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) at 47 USC §227 and related case law.
  • The Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud Abuse Prevention Act at 15 U.S.C. §§ 6101-6108 and related case law.
  • The Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud Abuse Prevention Act at 15 U.S.C. §§ 6101-6108 and related case law.
  • The Do Not Call Implementation Act at P.L.108-10, 117 Stat. 557, and related case law.
  • The Telemarketing Sales Rule at 16 C.F.R. § 310 and related Agency statements and case law.
  • The FCC's rules implementing the TCPA at 47 C.F.R. § 64.1200 and related Agency statements and case law.

NOTE: You may also want to review the requirements in those states in which you plan to do business and/or to which you plan to place calls. Many states prohibit calls to telephone numbers listed on the National Do Not Call Registry.

For more information, please see FTC INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTS above.

Will the FTC tell me whether my organization is exempt?

No. It is up to you to ensure that you are complying with the rules, and whether you should subscribe as an Exempt Organization is a decision you must make. In making this decision, you may wish to consult with an attorney. The FTC does not provide legal advice.

If you are not an Exempt Organization and you have nevertheless subscribed to the Registry as an Exempt Organization, you may be subject to civil and/or criminal penalties. If you subscribed as an Exempt Organization by mistake, and wish to withdraw your subscription, please contact the Help Desk.

How long will I have to wait before I can access the Registry?

Exempt Organizations that apply to the National Do Not Call Registry must wait three business days before beginning to download the telephone numbers to which they have subscribed.

The chart below outlines how the waiting period works. The timing of the waiting periods depends on when you create your profile. The waiting period will begin on the NEXT business day after you complete your profile.

This chart is based on the normal, non-holiday schedule. For federal holidays, adjust the schedule accordingly. Click here to see a list of federal holidays.

EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS
If you Create Your Profile on...
Check Your Status for Activation on...
Monday Friday
Tuesday Monday
Wednesday Tuesday
Thursday Wednesday
Friday Thursday
Saturday or Sunday Thursday


Will I be contacted?

Not necessarily. However if you are contacted and you do not respond adequately, you will be blocked from accessing the Registry. Whether you are contacted or not, it is up to you to ensure that you are complying with the rules.

If I am not contacted, does that mean that my organization’s access to the Registry as an Exempt Organization has been approved by the FTC?

No. It is up to you to ensure that you are complying with the rules. Your access to the Registry as an Exempt Organization is not approved by the FTC.

What if I am not an Exempt Organization?

If you are not an Exempt Organization and you have nevertheless subscribed to the Registry as an Exempt Organization, you may be subject to civil and/or criminal penalties. If you subscribed as an Exempt Organization by mistake and wish to withdraw your subscription, please contact the HELP DESK.

What if I have more questions?

For technical assistance, please contact the HELP DESK.

The Help Desk can provide only technical assistance, not legal opinion. For legal advice, you may need to consult with an attorney.


Employer Identification Number (EIN)/Social Security Number (SSN)

What is an EIN and how is it used by the National Do Not Call Registry?

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a number assigned by the Internal Revenue Service to companies and organizations. You are required to enter your organization's EIN to create a profile, unless you are the sole owner or proprietor of the company or organization. An EIN has the format nn-nnnnnnn.

My company is located outside of the US. Do I need to have an EIN to complete my profile?

Organizations who wish to create a profile on the registry are required to obtain an EIN before they can create a profile on the registry. The National Do Not Call Registry does not provide Employer Identification Numbers (EINs) to companies. The EIN is issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Before registering on the National Do Not Call Registry, a company located outside the US must first contact the IRS to obtain an EIN.

For information on obtaining an EIN for your organization you can go to the IRS website at: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=98350,00.html

International applicants can contact the IRS to apply for their EIN by calling (267) 941-1099 (Not a toll-free number), or they can apply online by clicking on the link HOW TO APPLY FOR AN EIN.

After your organization has obtained an EIN from the IRS, you will be able to Create A Profile by using the REGISTER NEW USERS button.

What is an SSN and how is it used by the National Do Not Call Registry?

A Social Security Number (SSN) is a number assigned to an individual by the Social Security Administration. If you do not have an Employer Identification Number (EIN) because you are the organization's sole owner or proprietor, then you must enter your Social Security Number to create a profile. The SSN has the format nnn-nn-nnnn.


Covered Area Codes

What area codes are included in the National Registry?

The area codes in the National Do Not Call Registry cover the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, North Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and toll-free numbers (500, 800, 866, 877, 880, 881, 882, and 888).


Passwords

Why are two passwords necessary?

The registry provides an organization with two passwords when it creates its profile. This affords your organization maximum flexibility if you want more than one person in your organization to know how to access the National Do Not Call Registry, and allows you to access the information whenever you need it. Once you receive your passwords and whenever you change them, you should print and save them in a secure location.

What are the two passwords?

The two passwords are for the designated Authorized Representative and for the Downloader.

The password for Authorized Representative grants access to all functions on this Web site:, Review Profile, Manage/Renew Subscriptions, Manage Clients, Download Phone Numbers and Contact Help Desk.

The password for Downloader grants access to ONLY the Download Phone Numbers, and Contact Help Desk functions. The Downloader password can be shared with more than one person to give access to telephone numbers on the registry.

What should I do when a password has been entered incorrectly too many times?

If you have tried to log in five times in a 15 minute period and failed all five times, you must send an email to the Help Desk at tmhelp@donotcall.gov to unlock your account before you can try to log in again. Make sure the Caps Lock is turned off and be careful when typing upper and lower case letters. You cannot copy and paste the passwords into the password field, they must be typed. Remember, you must type the password exactly as it was issued to you.

Locking you out after five attempts is a security measure designed to prevent one method for automated attacks against the system.

If you still have trouble with the password, your Authorized Representative may obtain a new password by following the steps below (Forgot My Password). This creates a completely new temporary password that is generated automatically. When you get a new password, you'll have to change it immediately before you'll be able to access the system.

I forgot our Representative or our Downloader password. How do I get a new password?

If you have forgotten your Downloader password, you can use the steps below (under the question How do I change our Representative or Downloader password?) to change it, as long as you have a current Representative password. There is no reason to use Forgot My Password to request a new Downloader password, since the one you receive will be temporary and your Authorized Representative will just have to change it anyway.

Follow these steps to obtain a new Representative password:

  1. Go to https://telemarketing.donotcall.gov/Login/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fReset%2fRequestReset.aspx
  2. When the Forgot My Password page is displayed,
    • enter your Organization ID
    • enter your Authorized Representative email address (if your Authorized Representative email address has changed, please notify the Help Desk of this change by email at tmhelp@donotcall.gov)
    • select either Representative or Downloader
    • click Submit.
  3. If successful, an email will be sent to the Authorized Representative, if not, please contact the Help Desk at tmhelp@donotcall.gov.
  4. When the email comes, open it and click on the link provided in the email.
  5. At the prompt, enter your Organization ID, and then click Submit.
  6. The system will provide you with a new Temporary password (make sure you write it down or print it out) and you will receive an email confirming that the password has been changed. You will be required to change that password before you can access the system.
  7. Once you have changed the password, login with your Organization ID and the new password you have created.

How do I change our Representative or Downloader password?

Start at the login screen. Click Change My Password. When the Change My Password screen appears, follow these steps:

  • Enter your Organization ID and the Representative Password (only the Representative can change a password).
  • Where the screen says "Change Password For:" select either Representative or Downloader (depending on which password you want to change).
  • Enter the New Password that you have created in the next two fields.
  • Click Submit.

The screen will confirm that the password has been changed and will display your new password. If you do not get the confirmation screen, then your attempt to change your password has failed. An error message should appear at the bottom of the screen that will help you determine why you were not successful.

What are the rules for passwords?

A password must be at least eight characters. The characters must contain a combination of lower and upper case letters, numbers (digits 0–9), and either punctuation or symbols (such as a comma “,” or an asterisk “*”). For example: KljYYu=59.

You are allowed five attempts to log in and then your account will be locked. Please see the question WHAT SHOULD I DO WHEN A PASSWORD HAS BEEN ENTERED INCORRECTLY TOO MANY TIMES? above for more information on having your account unlocked.

Only the Authorized Representative for an organization may change passwords or request a new password for a forgotten one. Passwords must be changed every 90 days. A password may not be reused for two years.

Can the Help Desk assist me if I have forgotten my Organization ID or changed my Authorized Representative email address but did not update my profile?

Organizations that are submitting a request for their Organization ID or to change the Authorized Representative Email Address on their profile will have to send an email to the FTC Do Not Call Registry Help Desk at tmhelp@donotcall.gov. The request should include the following information:

  • Your complete Organization Name.
  • Your complete Organization Address.
  • If your organization has changed names or moved since you created your profile, and the profile wasn’t updated, please provide your old Organization Name or Address.

Email Addresses

Why are two email addresses necessary?

The National Registry requires organizations to provide two email addresses in order to correctly email either the Authorized Representative or the person responsible for downloads. Both addresses may be the same, if the organization desires.

When a profile is created or updated, the system automatically sends a confirmation email to the Authorized Representative. The Representative must click on the link in the email and log in as the Representative to confirm that your email address is correct. Until you respond to this confirmation email, your account is not active, and you will not be able to log into our system for any purpose including to subscribe to area codes or to download phone numbers.

What are the two email addresses?

The email address for Authorized Representative is the email address of the person identified as the organization's Authorized Representative (to review the responsibilities of the organization's Authorized Representative go to https://telemarketing.donotcall.gov/profile/create.aspx). The National Do Not Call Registry sends emails to this address in response to requests to reset forgotten passwords, system maintenance notifications, etc. The Authorized Representative may also submit a Change List download request; the National Registry will send an email to the Representative when the download is ready.

When a Change List is submitted by someone using the Downloader password, the National Registry will send an email to the Downloader when the download is ready.

What if my email addresses change?

You can update any of the information in your profile (including the email addresses) at any time by going to REVIEW PROFILE.



Annual Subscription Period

What is the Annual Subscription Period?

When you subscribe to area codes, you establish an Annual Subscription Period for your organization. The Annual Subscription Period runs from the first day of the month in which your subscription becomes active until twelve months later. For example, if you subscribe to area codes on the 15th of September, your Subscription Start Date will be set to 1 September, and your Subscription Expiration Date will be set to the 31st of August of the next year.

Adding area codes to your subscription does not affect the Subscription Expiration Date. If you wait 11 months and 15 days and add an area code to your current subscription, it will still expire at the end of that month.


Subscribing to Area Codes

Why should I subscribe to area codes?

You must subscribe to area codes in order to have a Subscription Account Number (SAN) issued to your organization, or before you can download any data from the National Do Not Call Registry.

How do I subscribe to area codes for the first time?

  1. From https://telemarketing.donotcall.gov, Click MANAGE/RENEW SUBSCRIPTIONS and log in as the Authorized Representative.
  2. Click SUBSCRIBE TO AREA CODES OR ADD AREA CODES TO YOUR CURRENT SUBSCRIPTION. (NOTE: If you are an Exempt Organization you will not be charged any fees so you can ignore any mention of fees)
  3. In the SUBSCRIBE TO AREA CODES box:
    • Select ALL AREA CODES IN THE US to order every area code and click SUBMIT.
    • Select ALL AREA CODES WITHIN A STATE to order all of the area codes in one or more states and click SUBMIT.
      • A list of states, territories, and Toll-Free numbers will appear. Click on the applicable check box(es). When complete click CONTINUE (or CANCEL to return to the previous page).
    • Select AREA CODES BY AREA CODE NUMBER to order individual area codes from one or more states and click SUBMIT. Use this option to subscribe to five or fewer or individual area codes.
      • A list of individual area codes will appear. The area codes are sorted by area code. To sort them by state, click SORT BY STATE. To return to the original sort click SORT BY AREA CODE. If you selected some area codes, but want to start over, click CLEAR SELECTIONS. Click on the applicable check box(es). When complete click Continue (or Cancel to return to the previous page).
  4. The CONFIRM YOUR ORDER page will appear. Click Continue to submit your order (or Change to return to the previous page).
    • If you ordered five or fewer area codes it will take one business day to process your order. Once processed, you will be able to download files, the SUBSCRIBE TO AREA CODES OR ADD AREA CODES TO YOUR CURRENT SUBSCRIPTION link will be enabled, and your Subscription Account Number (SAN) will be issued. Your SAN will not be sent to you by email. You'll be able to find it by going to MANAGE/RENEW SUBSCRIPTIONS then either CHECK STATUS or View Area Codes.
  5. If a fee is due, click Continue at the bottom of the page to be transferred to Pay.gov for payment.
    • If you pay by Direct Debit/Electronic Funds Transfer there will be a waiting period of 3 to 5 full business days to allow the payment to clear. See https://telemarketing.donotcall.gov/faq/faqbusiness.aspx#DD/EFT for more information.
    • If you pay by credit card, your SAN will be issued immediately and you will be able to download as soon as the transaction is approved, which may occur during that same session.

Subscription Renewals

When does my subscription expire?

Your subscription will expire twelve months after your Subscription Start Date (which is the first day of the month in which your current subscription becomes active). Visit the Manage/Renew Subscriptions page to see your Subscription Expiration Date.

What is the process for renewing my subscription?

Organizations are notified of their expiration dates when they log on to the system and by email one month before their subscription will expire. An organization may renew its subscription no earlier than 30 days before its subscription expires. Subscriptions are also renewable after they have expired. A new 12-month subscription period will run from the first day of the month in which an organization renews, or, if the organization renews during the month before its expiration, a new 12-month subscription will run from the first day of the next month—starting immediately after the old subscription ends.

Can I renew early?

As noted above, organizations may renew their subscriptions 30 days early. If you do, your new subscription will start when your current one expires. There is no overlap.

If you add new or different area codes to your upcoming subscription, you will not be able to download them until your new subscription becomes active. Adding area codes to your current subscription does not extend the length of the Annual Subscription Period.

The Manage/Renew Subscription page will change when you become eligible to renew your subscription:

  1. When you are eligible for early renewal, you will see two links at the top of this page:
    • RENEW YOUR SUBSCRIPTION TO AREA CODES
    • SUBSCRIBE TO AREA CODES OR ADD AREA CODES TO YOUR CURRENT SUBSCRIPTION (EXPIRES: DD MMM YYYY)

  2. If you are not yet eligible for early renewal, you will only see the current subscription option link:
    • SUBSCRIBE TO AREA CODES OR ADD AREA CODES TO YOUR CURRENT SUBSCRIPTION (EXPIRES: DD MMM YYYY)
    (If you select this link you will be adding area codes to your current subscription period and they will expire on the date shown).

  3. If your subscription has expired, you will also see the current subscription option, but no expiration date will be displayed:
    • SUBSCRIBE TO AREA CODES OR ADD AREA CODES TO YOUR CURRENT SUBSCRIPTION
    (If you renew now, you will start a new subscription with a new twelve-month expiration date).

What happens if I don't renew early?

You may renew at any time once you are within 30 days of your Subscription Expiration Date, but if your current subscription expires, you will not be able to download area codes again until you renew.

What is the easiest way to renew my subscription to the same area codes?

After you click on RENEW YOUR SUBSCRIPTION TO AREA CODES use the Select from Last Subscription button on the Order Area Codes – Step 2 page to automatically select all area codes from your last subscription. You may add or remove area codes before continuing.

How can I see the area codes in my upcoming, current or previous subscriptions?

You can go to MANAGE/RENEW SUBSCRIPTIONS then select either CHECK STATUS or VIEW AREA CODES to view your organization's subscription information (or your client's subscription information) in the following time periods:

  • Previous subscription: Your expired subscription.
  • Current subscription: Your currently active subscription. This is the only subscription you can download area codes from.
  • Upcoming subscription: Your future subscription, created during the early renewal period.

Only one subscription is active at a time. When your current subscription expires, it becomes your previous subscription, and your upcoming subscription becomes your current subscription.

Why do I get a new SAN with my new subscription?

Your Subscription Account Number (SAN) expires when your current subscription expires. A new Subscription Account Number (SAN) identifies your new subscription and is the key to your current annual subscription. You must distribute your new SAN to any Telemarketers or Service Providers that work on your behalf if you want them to continue working for you.

To help you manage the SANs that your organization may have obtained over a number of years, your new SAN will have the subscription start year appended to the end. For example, 11111234-567890-11 is a SAN that started in 2011.

Will I need a new Organization ID and password for my new SAN?

Your Organization ID will remain the same and your passwords are still in effect if you have changed them within the last 90 days. If not you'll have to change them before you'll be able to log in and renew your subscription. Your SAN is the only thing that will automatically change when you create a new subscription. See below for information on changing your passwords.


Paying for Access to the Registry

Who must pay a fee to the registry?

Organizations that subscribe to more than five area codes will be required to pay a fee to access data on the registry, except for Exempt Organizations (who pay no fees). The fee is based on the number of area codes that the organization subscribes to. Fees must be paid online to Pay.gov during the subscription or renewal process. Pay.gov accepts Credit Cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover) and ACH payments.

The recipient in an ACH Transaction is:

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington DC 20580

Pay.gov does not accept Carte Blanche, wire transfers, cashier's checks, or traveler's checks.

When will I be able to access data on the registry if I pay for my subscription using a credit card?

Immediate access to data on the registry will be granted when an organization pays for its subscription using a credit card, providing that the credit card payment clears during the process.

When will I be able to access data on the registry if I pay for my subscription by Direct Debit / Electronic Funds Transfer?

If your organization pays for its subscription using direct debit from a bank account (also known as electronic funds transfer by entering the bank ACH number at the Pay.Gov Web site), you must wait until after your payment clears before you can begin downloading from the Registry. Generally, payments take between three to five full business days to clear. However, it is possible for payments to take longer before they will clear.

Please note that the length of time you must wait before your payment clears will depend on when you submit your payment for processing. Keep in mind:

  • if you submit your payment before 8 PM EST, then your payment will begin processing the next full business day;
  • if you submit your payment after 8 PM EST, then your payment will begin processing the second full business day; and,
  • waiting periods do NOT include weekends or holidays.

For example, if you submit your payment on a Monday, BEFORE 8 PM EST, and there are no holidays during that week, then your payment will generally clear by close-of-business on Thursday, and you will be able to begin downloading data from the registry on Friday. Alternatively, if you submit your payment on a Monday, AFTER 8 PM EST, and there are no holidays during that week, then your payment will generally clear by close-of-business on Friday, and you will be able to begin downloading data from the registry on the following Monday.


Requesting a Refund

The Help Desk does not have the final say for a refund request. You can go to MANAGE / RENEW SUBSCRIPTIONS then REQUEST A REFUND to ask for an automated refund for your payment. If you are not eligible to use the automated request, you will have to dispute the charges if your credit card company is charging you for your transaction. Once you have disputed the charges, the credit card company will contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).


Subscription Account Number (SAN) Sharing Guidance

How can a Telemarketer / Service Provider (TM/SP) share a Subscription Account Number (SAN)?

As noted in the DEFINITION section above, "Every Seller should subscribe, pay the appropriate fee, and agree to the certification requirements to receive a Subscription Account Number (SAN) with the National Do Not Call Registry." If that Seller then procures some type of telemarketing services from a Telemarketer/Service Provider (TM/SP) (for example: purchasing a list, scrubbing a list, or making telemarketing calls on the Seller's behalf, etc.) the Seller must "share" it's SAN with that TM/SP. Sharing the SAN gives the TM/SP access to the Seller's profile information (read only) and their subscription to area codes. Exempt Organizations (EOs) can also share their SANs with a TM/SP.

The TM/SP can then use the following steps to add their clients SANs to their Client List.

  1. Obtain the client's SAN and Organization ID.
  2. Click on MANAGE CLIENTS.
  3. Click on ADD A CLIENT'S SAN.
  4. Enter the client's SAN in the CLIENT SAN field.
  5. Enter the client's Organization ID in the Organization ID field.
  6. Click Add. The ADD CLIENT-REVIEW page will appear which will display the client's Name, Address, and SAN. Confirm that the information is correct and click Submit.
  7. If the information is not correct, click Cancel. The registry will return to the previous page so corrections can be made.
  8. Once Submit has been clicked, the ADD CLIENT—COMPLETE page will appear, which acknowledges that the organization has been added to the Client List.

The TM/SP can then review their Client's List by going back to MANAGE CLIENTS and clicking on MANAGE EXISTING CLIENTS. This page will display all of their client's Organization Names, SANs, and SAN Expiration Dates, and provides access for them to view their client's Profiles, and the Area Codes in the client's subscription. They can also use this page to remove clients from the Client's List by clicking on "Delete" Once a SAN has been added the TM/SP should also be able to see the SAN on the VIEW AREA CODES page under MANAGE / RENEW SUBSCRIPTIONS.

How can a Seller/Exempt Organization keep track of the TM/SPs that they have shared their SAN with?

Once a TM/SP has added a Seller/EO to their Client List, the Seller/EO has the ability to see what Organizations are sharing it's SAN by going to MANAGE / RENEW SUBSCRIPTIONS then VIEW SAN SHARING.

On this page the Seller/EO will see their:

  • SAN,
  • the names of the TM/SPs with whom their SAN is being shared,
  • whether or not that TM/SP has shared their SAN with another TM/SP (and the name of that other TM/SP),
  • and the date of the last download that was completed by that TM/SP using their SAN.

The Seller/EO can also click on the Delete button to remove their SAN from the Client's List of any TM/SP with whom they are no longer affiliated.

Since organizations are required to search the registry at least every 31 days, knowing the date of the last download by the TM/SP allows the Seller/EO to know whether or not that requirement is being met.

What are the guidelines for SAN Sharing by different Organization Functions?

The following chart provides additional information for Sharing SANs:

Type of Organization Who Must Pay? Who Must Complete the Certification? Who May Download the Information? Who Owns the Subscription Account Number (SAN)? May the Organization Share the SAN?
Seller who engages in its own telemarketing Seller Seller Seller Seller Yes with one or more TM/SP but not with an EO
Seller who uses Telemarketer (TM) or Service Provider (SP) Either Seller or TM/SP on behalf of Seller Either Seller or TM/SP on behalf of Seller Either Seller or TM/SP on behalf of Seller Seller Yes, with one or more TM/SP but not with a Seller or an EO
Telemarketer or Service Provider (TM/SP) that accesses the registry through a clients account TM/SP or no one (if using existing SAN) TM/SP Seller Seller/Client Yes, with another TM/SP but not with a Seller or an EO
Telemarketer or Service Provider (TM/SP)  that accesses the registry on its own behalf as well as accessing the registry through a client's account TM/SP and client TM/SP TM/SP TM/SP Yes, with another TM/SP but not with a Seller or an EO
Exempt Organizations (EO) No payment required or TM/SP if engaging in non-exempt telemarketing activities on behalf of EO EO or TM/SP on behalf of EO EO or TM/SP on behalf of EO EO Yes with one or more TM/SP

Note: A Covered Seller is subject to the Federal Trade Commission's amended Telemarketing Sales Rule.



Accessing Telephone Numbers and Downloading Files

I've just completed my registration and my first subscription to 5 or fewer area codes, why can't I download?

Your first order of 5 or fewer area codes will take 1 business day to process. After this period you will be able to download files, your Subscription Account Number (SAN) will be issued to you, and the SUBSCRIBE TO AREA CODES OR ADD AREA CODES TO YOUR CURRENT SUBSCRIPTION link will be enabled. You will find your Subscription Account Number (SAN) in two places on the registry, by going to MANAGE/RENEW SUBSCRIPTIONS then either CHECK STATUS or View Area Codes. Note: YOUR SAN WILL NOT BE SENT TO YOU BY EMAIL.

NOTE: If you are a Telemarketer/Service Provider downloading on behalf of clients you will be required to certify your compliance with the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) each time you download.

When are Full Lists updated and available for me to download?

Full area code lists are updated every day and are usually available for download after 8:00 am ET each day.

What are the ways that I can access telephone numbers?

A Full List Download is a download that contains all the registered telephone numbers within the area codes that are part of your organization's subscription. Downloads of multiple area codes or states have to be done by file. Each area code or state list is a discrete file. A download of the entire National Registry is one discrete file.

A Change List Download is a download that contains telephone numbers added to or deleted from the National Registry since the last time your organization downloaded its subscription. You will be notified by email when the Change List download is ready, which may take up to 24 hours. (NOTE: It is recommended that you complete a Full List Download of your subscription at least once every six months to ensure that your lists are accurately synchronized).

The Interactive Phone Number Search allows you to enter an area code and up to 10 telephone numbers in that area code. For each telephone number entered, the system displays whether the number is Registered or Not Registered.

What file formats are available for download?

A Flat Text File is a comma-delimited flat text file (for the full list) containing one area code and telephone number per line, separated by a comma. A comma-delimited text file (for the change list)  has several data items per record, separated by commas.

A XML Tagged File is an XML tagged file containing both data and markers ("tags") with information in angle brackets that indicate the nature of the data.

For more information on the file formats, see below.

Are the download files are compressed. What software can I use to uncompress a file?

Download files are compressed or zipped to make downloads faster and more secure. You can use any standard software for uncompressing or unzipping downloaded files. If you do not have this software installed on your computer, you can download it from one of the Web sites that offer such software, for example:

Note: The Federal Trade Commission and the National Do Not Call Registry do not endorse any Web sites, vendors or software products. This list is provided simply for your convenience.

How do I uncompress a file?

Generally, you will need to rename the downloaded file to conform to the conventions required by the decompression software you are using. For example, you may need to rename the file so it has a .ZIP file extension. After you rename the file, then click on it to launch the decompression software. For details, you should consult the documentation for your decompression software.

How large are the download files? How much disk space do they take?

The Full List will grow larger as more telephone numbers are entered into the National Registry. The size of a Change List depends on how long ago you downloaded a list and how many telephone numbers were added and deleted during that time.

The following table provides estimates of typical file sizes for the Full List, but the sizes of the files you download may be different. The estimates are based on 70 million registered telephone numbers:

File Name Uncompressed Size
On Disk (Meg)
Compressed Download
Size (Meg)
Global File (All States) 1,796 335
California 211 39
Other Large States (TX,FL,NY) 117 21
Average States 28 6
     
Large Area Code 18 4
Average Area Code 5.7 1.2

How long will it take to download a file?

The time it takes to download a file depends on the connection speed, Internet traffic and other conditions. The following table is based on the typical file sizes described above:

File Name Download Speed in Minutes
(56Kbps Dial Up)
Download Speed in
Minutes(1Mbps DSL)
Global File (All States) 1045 59
California 121 6
Other Large States (TX,FL,NY) 65 4
Average States 18 2
     
Large Area Code 12 0.6
Average Area Code 3 0.2

How does downloading work?

Downloads work in different ways, depending on your list selection. Remember that before you can download registered telephone numbers, you must agree to the certification requirements of the National Registry.

If you choose to download a Full List, you will see a list of the files for your subscription. For example, if you registered for 5 area codes, you will see each one listed; if you registered for 2 states, you will see each state listed; if you registered for all area codes, you will see a single file. Click on the file indicator, and then answer the dialog questions to save it to disk. If you have multiple files to download, repeat this process for each file. Be sure you have enough disk space to hold the downloaded files. Once the files are downloaded, you must uncompress them.

If you choose to download a Change List, a custom list of telephone numbers that have been added to and deleted from the National Registry since your last download will be generated. When your Change List is ready, you will receive an email at the email address for your Authorized Representative (if you logged in as the Representative to request the list), or the email address for your Downloader (if you logged in as the Downloader to request the list). You should receive the email within 24 hours after you submit your request. Open the email and click on the link to start the download. Answer the dialog questions to save it to disk. Be sure you have enough disk space to hold the downloaded files. As noted above, once the Change List is downloaded, you must uncompress it.

For Change Lists, you may also choose to set up a SOAP-based web service to automate downloads of the files. The compressed XML payload is similar to that of the XML Change files. You must contact the Help Desk to obtain specific technical details and the WSDL specification for this service.

My download failed. What do I do?

Click on the Download Phone Numbers button again and follow the instructions to retry. If the problem persists, click on the Contact Help Desk button and fill out the form to report this to the Help Desk. Please include any error messages you're getting.


Download File Formats

As noted above, the download files come in two different formats: Flat Text Files or XML Tagged Files . The sections below describe the contents of these file formats for Full Lists and for Change Lists. A Full List in Flat Text file format looks different from a Change List in Flat Text file format.

Flat Text File – Full List

The Full List in a Flat Text File has one three-digit area code, a comma, and a seven-digit telephone number per line, with a linefeed at the end of each line:

123,4567890
123,4567890
123,4567890

Flat Text File – Change List

The Change List in a Flat Text File has one record per line, with a linefeed at the end of each line. Each record has a 10-digit telephone number, a date and time stamp, and the transaction type (the letter A if the phone number was added or the letter D if the phone number was deleted).

1234567890,yyyy-mm-ddThh:mm:ss,A
1234567890,yyyy-mm-ddThh:mm:ss,A
1234567890,yyyy-mm-ddThh:mm:ss,D
9876543210,yyyy-mm-ddThh:mm:ss,A
9876543210,yyyy-mm-ddThh:mm:ss,D

XML Tagged File – Full List

When you receive the Full List as an XML Tagged File, an element indicates what level and value of data are contained in the file.

  • For the complete national list, the level is "all" and the value is null (Example 1)
  • For a state list, the level is "state" and the value is a 2 character state abbreviation, such as NY for New York (Example 2)
  • For an area code list, the level is "ac" and the value is the area code, such as 716 (Example 3)

Note: XML Tagged Files will not contain the extra white space shown below for formatting.

Example 1: National List

<list type='full' level='all' val='' />
<ac val='123'>
    <ph val='4567890' />
    <ph val='4567890' />
    <ph val='4567890' />
</ac>
<ac val='xxx'>
    <ph val='xxxxxxx' />
    <ph val='xxxxxxx' />
    <ph val='xxxxxxx' />
</ac>
</list>

Example 2: State List

<list type='full' level='state' val='NY' />
<ac val='212'>
    <ph val='4567890' />
    <ph val='4567890' />
    <ph val='4567890' />
</ac>
<ac val='xxx'>
    <ph val='xxxxxxx' />
    <ph val='xxxxxxx' />
    <ph val='xxxxxxx' />
    </ac>
</list>

Example 3: Single Area Code List

<list type='full' level='ac' val='716' />
<ac val='716'>
    <ph val='4567890' />
    <ph val='4567890' />
    <ph val='4567890' />
</ac>
</list>

XML Tagged File – Change List

The Change List XML Tagged File has a 7-digit telephone number, a date and time stamp, and the transaction type (the letter A if the phone number was added or the letter D if the phone number was deleted.)

<list type='change' />
<ac val='123'>
    <ph val='4567890' dt='yyyy-mm-ddThh:mm:ss' tt='A' />
    <ph val='4567890' dt='yyyy-mm-ddThh:mm:ss' tt='A' />
    <ph val='4567890' dt='yyyy-mm-ddThh:mm:ss' tt='D' />
</ac>
<ac val='987'>
    <ph val='6543210' dt='yyyy-mm-ddThh:mm:ss' tt='A' />
    <ph val='6543210' dt='yyyy-mm-ddThh:mm:ss' tt='D' />
</ac>
</list>

Note: XML Tagged Files will not contain the extra white space shown below for formatting.



Help Desk Hours of Operation

The Help Desk's operational hours are 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, except for Federal government holidays.


Federal Holidays

New Year's Day
Martin Luther King's Birthday
President's Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Columbus Day
Veteran's Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day


Help Desk Responses

During operational hours, the Help Desk will respond to requests for assistance within two hours of receipt. Otherwise, the Help Desk will respond within two hours of the start of normal business hours.


Email from the Help Desk

The Help Desk responds only via email. There is no phone number by which to contact the Help Desk. Lockheed Martin provides both Tier 1 and Tier 2 level support. Tier 1 elevates selected problems to Tier 2 or the FTC for guidance and resolution as needed.


Requesting Assistance

The Help Desk provides assistance only to those Telemarketers, Sellers and Exempt Organizations registered on the telemarketing web site. The Help Desk does not provide assistance to consumers or those with questions concerning the consumer do not call web site.

The Help Desk can provide only technical assistance, not legal opinion. For legal advice, you may need to consult with an attorney.

In order to receive information from the Help Desk, a trouble ticket is created by filling in the form located on the CONTACT HELP DESK page of the telemarketing web site (https://telemarketing.donotcall.gov/ Login/ Login.aspx?ReturnUrl =%2fhelp%2fhelpdesk.aspx) The system assigns a problem case number to the reported problem for tracking purposes. A reply will be sent to the email address entered on the form.

There may be cases when the Help Desk cannot be reached using the Telemarketing web site. In these rare cases an email can be sent directly to the Lockheed Martin Help Desk address (tmhelp@donotcall.gov). Please note that for issues reported by email the Lockheed Martin Help Desk cannot assign a problem case number for tracking purposes.