Do Not Call Means Do Not Call, Forever?

A Pennsylvania congressman wants to help preserve your sanity with a bill that would make permanent the government's do-not-call list for telemarketers.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in 2003 set up a registry of phone numbers that did not wish to receive telemarketing calls. Consumers entered their home, mobile or work phones numbers on the FTC Web site or called the agency to sign up for the list. Exceptions are made for certain charity or political calls or for companies that have a prior relationship with the customer.

Submitted numbers, however, expire after five years, so numbers currently in the registry are set to be deleted beginning next year.

Legislation introduced Monday by Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Pa., would ensure that entries are never deleted. "It makes no sense to force people to sign up again every couple of years," he said in a statement.

I agree. Once I sign up for the do not call list, my number should be there until it's no longer my number. Lately, however, we have had an extraordinary amount of calls lately, and I have had to visit the do not call website to submit complaints. Even if the list is made permanent, are they going to do anything about those who keep calling?