# Do Not Call List for Cell Phones? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 11, 2004, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-call-list-for-cell-phones/279307 "2004-12-11T12:52:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-call-list-for-cell-phones/279307/1 "2004-12-11T12:52:19Z")
I had this message forwarded to me from a friend. I don’t know how well-informed she or the original source is concerning this. Can anybody verify? I was under the impression that phone numbers would not be listed if incoming calls were charged to the phone account. Starting Jan. 1st, 2005 all cell phone numbers will be made public to telemarketing firms. Sux huh. Especially since we pay for incoming calls unlike our home phones. According to the NAtional DO NOT CALL LIST, you have till Dec. 15th, 2004 to register your cell number on the Do Not Call List for Cell Phones. Call 1-888-382-1222 from the cell you wish to be placed on the list. Or do it online at [www.donotcall.gov](http://www.donotcall.gov) ---
**Author:** ![sorrel554](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@sorrel554](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sorrel554)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-call-list-for-cell-phones/279307/2 "2004-12-11T13:49:28Z")
According to [this story](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6689499/), this is a false story that’s been making the email rounds. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-call-list-for-cell-phones/279307/3 "2004-12-11T18:59:26Z")
Do Not Call List for Cell Phones? List all of your phone numbers online at [www.donotcall.gov](http://www.donotcall.gov) There WAS and perhaps still is a move afoot to publish SOME of the various providers numbers for publication. Reactions from cell phone subscribers will probably kill it entirely due to air time charges for unsolicited incoming calls. If you get a call get the caller’s number in case it is blocked, and advise him you are on the DNC list and not to ever call again. Call your provider and advise them of who called and when and to refund any air time charges for the call. The directory was promoted by telemarketers. ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-call-list-for-cell-phones/279307/4 "2004-12-11T19:00:15Z")
- - - The email story is BS, plain and simple. * * * - The last I recall hearing, the US gov’t wanted to centralize cell-phone number data after mandating that cell-phone numbers be portable between different cell phone companies, and telemarketers wanted to be able to get to that centralized data, -but a few US congressmen were insisting that unsolicited sales calls get charged to the _caller_ and not the receiver when a cell phone is called, and the phone companies don’t want no part of dealing with that sh1t, because they do not all have all of the systems in place to perform it. Without industry support, congress doesn’t want to deal with it, so the issue of a US centralized cell-phone directory is on hold for now but it is generally presumed to be in the not-too-distant future. ~ ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-call-list-for-cell-phones/279307/5 "2004-12-11T23:56:07Z")
Not really true, here’s a link to Snopes: > **[Are Cell Phone Numbers Being Given to Telemarketers?](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/cell-phone-numbers-given-telemarketers/)** > > Rumors that cell phone numbers are going to be released to telemarketers if their owners don't sign up with the Do Not Call registry are false. Upshot is that the Wireless 411 service is (supposed to be) strictly opt-in (so your number would only be on it if you specifically request it) and since it’s not a telemarketing list to begin with, putting your cell number on the national DNC list won’t do anything anyhow.