Executive Secretary

Leon A. Gaumond Jr., M.P.A.

Telephone: 413-525-5427

Fax : 413-525-1025

Email: lgaumond@eastlongmeadow.org

For immediate release: August 27, 2003

For further information, contact –

Leon A. Gaumond, Jr. at 525-5428

CONSUMER WARNING:

Don’t Pay To Register on The National Do Not Call Registry; Registration is FREE and EASY at 1-888-382-1222 or www.donotcall.gov

The Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR) would like to warn consumers about recent advertisements urging consumers to call 1-800-DONOTCALL and pay a $2.95 fee to sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry.  Consumers calling this commercial number are transferred and connected to the National Do Not Call Registry for a $2.95 fee.  However, registration is FREE if consumers call the National Do Not Call Registry directly at the toll free number 1-888-382-1222.  Registering through any other number is unnecessary, takes three times as long, and costs the consumer money. 

OCABR reminds consumers that signing onto the official National or Massachusetts Do Not Call Registries is FREE, QUICK, and EASY.  Consumers can register their telephone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry for free by calling 1-888-382-1222, or by signing up at the Do Not Call website, www.donotcall.gov.  Consumers can register their telephone numbers on the Massachusetts Do Not Call Registry for free by calling 1-866-231-CALL (2255), by going online at www.mass.gov/donotcall, or by mailing their name, address, and telephone number to:

Massachusetts Do Not Call Program
P.O. Box 1348
Boston, MA 02117

Consumers who have questions about the Massachusetts Do Not Call program can contact the Office of Consumer Affairs toll free at 1-888-283-3757 or visit our Do Not Call website at www.Mass.Gov/donotcall.

Consumers with questions regarding the National Do Not Call program can call the Federal Trade Commission toll free at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or visit their website at www.ftc.gov/donotcall.