Numbers on Do Not Call Register now permanent

Life is easier for Australians wanting to opt-out of unsolicited telemarketing calls, as registrations of numbers on the Do Not Call Register are now permanent.

‘This means that the more than 10 million numbers currently on the Register will never need re-registering,’ said ACMA Chairman, Chris Chapman.

‘For anyone wanting to opt out of unsolicited telemarketing calls and marketing faxes long term, any new registrations will also be valid permanently.’

Under previous arrangements, registrations of numbers expired after eight years, meaning numbers had to be re-registered. This is no longer the case.

According to ACMA research, the Register is working. Nearly 90 per cent of people on the Register reported a material reduction in unsolicited marketing calls after registration.

The Register is not, however, designed to stop or reduce scam calls so Australians are encouraged to be cautious when receiving unsolicited calls.

Australian mobile and landline phone numbers used primarily for private or domestic purposes, as well as fax numbers, are eligible to be registered.

Registering numbers on the Do Not Call Register is quick, free and easy, taking just a few minutes. Visit www.donotcall.gov.au or call 1300 792 958.

For more information please see the Backgrounder below, or to arrange an interview, please contact: Emma Rossi, Media Manager, (02) 9334 7719, 0434 652 063 or media@acma.gov.au.

Media release 23/2015 - 27 April

Backgrounder

The Do Not Call Register (the Register) is established under the Do Not Call Register Act 2006(the Act). There are currently 10.15 million numbers listed on the Register, with 57 per cent of these being fixed line numbers and 43 per cent mobile numbers.

While new and existing registrations are now permanent, people can still check or remove their numbers from the Register at any time.

It is illegal for most unsolicited telemarketing calls or marketing faxes to be made to numbers on the Register. The vast majority of businesses that use this type of marketing do the right thing, checking their contact lists against the Register. Since the launch of the Register, marketers have checked over 8.5 billion numbers against it.

Marketing calls from registered charities, market researchers, educational institutions and registered political parties are permitted, as are calls from businesses with which the recipient has an established ongoing relationship. All marketing calls, however, are subject to rules which limit the hours calls can be made, requires callers to enable calling line identification and terminate calls upon request.

A Register infographic is available here.

The ACMA is responsible for addressing complaints from recipients of unsolicited telemarketing calls or marketing faxes and for ensuring compliance with the Act. Since the start of the Register, the ACMA has received almost 122,000 complaints and nearly 85,000 enquiries, made over 8,100 contacts with businesses responsible for telemarketing calls or marketing faxes, and conducted over 86 formal investigations.

The Register will not stop scam calls. Australians are encouraged to be cautious when receiving any unsolicited calls and if a scam is suspected, simply hang up.

The change to permanent registrations takes effect on 27 April 2015.