Do not call list number: how to register and what it actually does

Last updated 2026-07-09

What is the number for the Do Not Call list?

The number is 1-888-382-1222. Call from the phone you want to register, and the FTC's automated system adds that line to the National Do Not Call Registry within 24 hours. No fee, no renewal.

A second line exists for people who are deaf or hard of hearing: 1-866-290-4236 (TTY). Both lines are run by the Federal Trade Commission, which operates the registry under the Do Not Call Implementation Act of 2003 and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, 47 U.S.C. § 227. ^[1][2]

You can also register online at donotcall.gov. The web form asks for an email address so it can verify you; the phone line does not. Either way, your number lands in the same federal database. The FTC reported more than 244 million active registrations as of fiscal year 2023. ^[3]

Want the full picture of what the registry covers and who runs it? See our guide to the do not call list.

How do I get my number on the national Do Not Call list?

Two ways in: phone or web.

By phone: Call 1-888-382-1222 from the number you want registered. The automated system confirms it at the end of the call. That's it. You never call again, and the registration does not expire.

Online at donotcall.gov: Enter up to three numbers per visit, click the verification link the FTC emails you, and all three go live within 24 hours. Register more numbers in a separate session. ^[3]

Registration used to expire every five years. The Do Not Call Improvement Act of 2007 made it permanent, effective February 2008. Numbers only fall off if they get disconnected and reassigned to a new subscriber. ^[4] The FTC scrubs reassigned numbers against carrier data on a rolling basis.

Here's what most people miss. Registering does not stop calls overnight. Covered telemarketers have up to 31 days to honor your registration before they're legally required to stop. ^[3] And a company you already do business with can keep calling for 18 months after your last transaction, unless you tell them directly to knock it off.

How to put a mobile phone number on the Do Not Call list

Mobile numbers are fully eligible. The same line, 1-888-382-1222, works for cell phones. Call from the phone itself or register at donotcall.gov.

There's a stubborn myth that cell numbers get automatically dumped into a database and released to telemarketers unless you act. The FTC has flatly debunked it. There is no secret release of mobile numbers. You register voluntarily, and the protection kicks in once you do. ^[3]

What's different about mobile is the TCPA sitting on top. Under 47 U.S.C. § 227(b), calling or texting a cell phone with an autodialer or prerecorded message without prior express consent is separately illegal, no matter what the registry says. So mobile users get two legal shields at once: the registry ban and the TCPA consent rule. ^[1] Our article on the mobile phone do not call list breaks down both layers.

How long does it take for the Do Not Call list to take effect?

Your number is in the database within 24 hours. But telemarketers get a grace period before they have to comply.

The FTC rule gives them 31 days from your registration date to update their call lists. ^[3] So a legal telemarketing call can still reach you for up to a month after you sign up. After that, any covered telemarketer who calls is in violation.

Big call centers usually refresh their suppression lists more often than the rule demands. Many pull the registry every 30 days as a floor. Some do it weekly. The operations that ride the full 31-day window right up to the edge are exactly the ones that land in an FTC enforcement file.

What calls does the Do Not Call list actually stop?

The registry blocks sales calls from for-profit companies. Simple on paper. The exemptions punch a bigger hole than people expect.

Calls the registry does NOT stop:

• Political calls and robocalls (campaigns, ballot initiatives, parties)
• Charities and non-profit fundraisers calling directly (third-party telemarketers calling for them must still comply)
• Survey and research calls (informational, no sale)
• Companies you already do business with, for up to 18 months after your last transaction
• Companies you've given written permission to call
• Debt collectors (governed by the FDCPA, not the registry)
• Businesses you recently contacted, for a 12-month inquiry window

The FTC's consumer guidance puts it plainly: "The Registry accepts registrations from both cell phones and landlines. If your number is registered and you get a sales call, you can report it." ^[3]

For covered calls, the rule bites. A telemarketer who calls a registered number without an exemption faces civil penalties up to $51,744 per violation as of the FTC's 2024 inflation adjustment. ^[5] The FTC and FCC split enforcement. See our full breakdown of what counts as a do not call list violation.

Who enforces the Do Not Call Registry, the FTC or the FCC?

Both do, and the overlap matters.

The FTC enforces the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR), which created the registry under the Do Not Call Implementation Act of 2003. It covers most telemarketing calls. ^[2]

The FCC enforces the TCPA, 47 U.S.C. § 227, which covers autodialed calls, prerecorded messages, and faxes to both landlines and mobile phones. The FCC first adopted rules implementing the TCPA's Do Not Call provisions in 1992 and has updated them many times since. ^[1]

In practice they coordinate. The FTC runs the registry database and brings most civil enforcement. The FCC handles complaints about autodialed calls and robocalls. State attorneys general can sue under both statutes in federal court. Private plaintiffs can sue under the TCPA for $500 to $1,500 per call. ^[1]

That split in authority is one reason the government do not call list and the FTC do not call list get treated differently in enforcement.

What is the TCPA, and how does it relate to the Do Not Call list?

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act, passed in 1991, is the federal law that gives the Do Not Call rules teeth. It's codified at 47 U.S.C. § 227.

The statute's language on private suits reads: "A person or entity may, if otherwise permitted by the laws or rules of court of a State, bring in an appropriate court of that State... an action based on a violation of this subsection or the regulations prescribed under this subsection to enjoin such violation, an action to recover for actual monetary loss from such a violation, or to receive $500 in damages for each such violation, whichever is greater." ^[1] For willful or knowing violations, a court can triple that to $1,500 per call.

If you're the one placing calls, this private right of action is the real threat. The FTC may never bother a small company. A class action can end it. One campaign hitting 10,000 registered numbers at $500 each is $5 million in exposure. At $1,500, it's $15 million. Courts have certified TCPA classes routinely since the early 2010s.

This is where your process matters as much as the law. Run an outbound team? Scrub your list against the registry before every campaign. LeadCompliant's free DNC checker is one fast way to do that first scrub before you commit to a full compliance stack.

How do I check if my number is already on the Do Not Call list?

Go to donotcall.gov and use the Verify Registration option. Enter the phone number and your email address. The FTC emails you back showing whether the number is registered and, if so, the date it was confirmed. ^[3]

Two reasons this helps. If you registered years ago and aren't sure you ever finished the email verification step, you can confirm it. And if you just got a new number that someone else used to own, you can check whether the prior owner registered it and whether it's still active.

The check requires email verification on the FTC's end. That's deliberate. It stops telemarketers from using the lookup tool to harvest confirmed live numbers, so it isn't an open query anyone can spam.

Does the Do Not Call list stop robocalls?

Mostly no, and that's the letdown for everyone who registers expecting silence.

Legitimate telemarketers check the registry and skip your number. That part works. The trouble is the callers behind most robocall complaints aren't checking anything, because they're already breaking other laws, often calling from outside the US, spoofing caller IDs, and running auto-dialers through VoIP services that are hard to trace. ^[6]

The FTC and FCC have both stepped up robocall enforcement. The FCC's STIR/SHAKEN framework, adopted in 2020, makes voice providers authenticate caller ID to cut down on spoofing. ^[7] It has helped at the carrier level. It hasn't fixed the problem.

So the registry works well against compliant companies, which are also the ones you could actually hold accountable. It does much less against the scam operations that generate the real nuisance. For those, a carrier call-blocking app and your phone's built-in spam filter are the practical backstop.

Report unwanted calls to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov or through donotcall.gov. The agency uses that complaint data to spot patterns and build cases. ^[3]

Are there state Do Not Call lists in addition to the federal one?

Yes. About half of US states run their own Do Not Call registries, and some are stricter than the federal TSR.

State	Has separate DNC list	Notes
Florida	Yes	Florida Do Not Call program run by the state Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Indiana	Yes	Indiana Do Not Call List; enforced by the AG
Pennsylvania	Yes	PA Do Not Call list; free registration
Texas	No	Relies on federal registry
California	No	Relies on federal registry, but the CCPA adds other consumer rights
Colorado	Yes	Colorado No-Call List; separate registration

The federal registry preempts weaker state laws, but states can enforce laws that give consumers more protection. ^[8] Some have shorter grace periods or narrower existing-business-relationship exemptions than federal rules.

If you're a consumer, one registration at donotcall.gov covers you federally. For states like Florida, Indiana, and Pennsylvania, a separate state registration adds protection. Our state guides for florida do not call list, indiana do not call list, and do not call list pa walk through the exact steps.

For telemarketers, the reality is you scrub against both the federal registry and any state list that applies. Running a federal scrub alone and dialing into Florida or Indiana without checking their lists is a gap that has produced real enforcement actions.

What happens if a telemarketer calls a number on the Do Not Call list?

Several things, and they stack.

At the federal level, the FTC can seek civil penalties up to $51,744 per violation. ^[5] The FCC can impose forfeitures under the TCPA. State AGs can file suit under both statutes. Private plaintiffs can sue under 47 U.S.C. § 227 for $500 to $1,500 per illegal call, with no cap on how many calls a class action can bundle.

The FTC has posted some large numbers. Across 2022 and 2023, the agency brought multiple actions against robocall operations with penalties and disgorgement running into the hundreds of millions of dollars. ^[5] Cases against smaller businesses for fewer violations have settled in the tens to hundreds of thousands.

If you're a business staring at a complaint, the first question is whether you had a valid exemption: an existing business relationship, prior written consent, or a statutory carve-out. Without one, the violation is hard to defend.

If you're a consumer, the path is to report the call at donotcall.gov. The FTC won't chase every complaint, but the aggregate data drives who gets targeted.

On the compliance side, our checklist on how to get the do not call list for businesses walks through registry access for telemarketers.

How do businesses access the Do Not Call Registry to scrub their call lists?

Telemarketers subscribe through the FTC's data-access system at telemarketing.donotcall.gov. It's separate from consumer registration.

Free access covers up to five area codes per organization per year. Additional area codes cost $76 each per year, and full national access is capped at $20,955 per year (as of the FTC's current fee schedule, which adjusts annually). ^[9] Check the FTC's fee page before you budget, since the numbers move each year.

Once subscribed, you download the registry data and run your call list against it before each campaign. The FTC requires scrubs no more than 31 days before a call is placed. Download the list once and use it for 60 days, and you're out of compliance even if it was clean at download. ^[2]

Calling into specific states may also mean subscribing to state DNC lists separately. Indiana and Pennsylvania both maintain independent databases with their own subscription processes.

LeadCompliant's free compliance kit includes a DNC scrub checklist and a pre-call verification workflow covering federal and state requirements, which is a useful starting point before you build your own internal process.

Can I report a Do Not Call violation, and will anything actually happen?

Yes. Report at donotcall.gov or reportfraud.ftc.gov. Include the date, the caller's number (even if spoofed), what they pitched, and whether you're registered. ^[3]

Will your single call trigger an investigation? Almost never on its own. The FTC doesn't pursue individual complaints as standalone cases. What it does is aggregate the data to find companies generating heavy call volume. A company drawing thousands of complaints becomes a target.

So reporting matters collectively even when it feels pointless one call at a time. FTC enforcement actions against major robocallers have repeatedly cited complaint data as the evidence base for identifying who to go after. ^[5]

State attorneys general sometimes move faster than the FTC on individual cases, especially against local businesses. If a nearby, identifiable company keeps calling, your state AG's office may be the quicker route.

For the compliance officers reading this: complaints against your company land in the FTC's database. If they're piling up, treat that as a warning before it turns into an investigation.

Frequently asked questions

What is the phone number for the Do Not Call list?

The number is 1-888-382-1222. Call from the phone you want to register. The FTC's automated system adds your number to the National Do Not Call Registry within 24 hours at no cost. A TTY line for the deaf and hard of hearing is available at 1-866-290-4236. You can also register online at donotcall.gov.

How do I get put on the Do Not Call list?

Call 1-888-382-1222 from the number you want registered, or go to donotcall.gov and register up to three numbers at once using your email address. Registration is free and has been permanent since 2008. Telemarketers get 31 days after you register to stop calling you. Mobile numbers are eligible exactly like landlines.

Is registration on the national Do Not Call list permanent?

Yes. The Do Not Call Improvement Act of 2007 made registrations permanent, effective February 2008. You never need to renew. Your number stays in the database until it's disconnected and reassigned to someone else. The FTC periodically purges reassigned numbers using carrier data.

Does the Do Not Call list apply to cell phones?

Yes. Mobile numbers are fully eligible. Register at donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222 from your cell. Mobile phones also get a separate layer of protection under the TCPA, which bans autodialed or prerecorded calls to cell phones without prior express consent, regardless of registry status.

Why am I still getting calls after registering on the Do Not Call list?

A few reasons. Telemarketers get a 31-day grace period after you register. Companies you already do business with can keep calling for 18 months after your last transaction. Political calls, charities, and surveys are all exempt. Scam robocallers ignore the registry entirely. Report violations at donotcall.gov to help the FTC build cases.

How do I verify my number is registered on the Do Not Call list?

Go to donotcall.gov and use the Verify Registration tool. Enter your phone number and email address. The FTC emails a confirmation showing whether your number is registered and the date it was added. This is also how you check whether a number you recently acquired was registered by a previous owner.

Does the Do Not Call list stop political robocalls?

No. Political calls, political robocalls, and calls from campaigns, parties, and ballot initiative groups are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry. The exemption sits in the Telemarketing Sales Rule itself. The TCPA separately restricts autodialed calls to cell phones, but political speech gets wide latitude under FCC interpretation.

How much can a company be fined for calling a number on the Do Not Call list?

The FTC can seek civil penalties up to $51,744 per violation as of the 2024 inflation adjustment. Private plaintiffs can sue under the TCPA for $500 per illegal call, or $1,500 if the violation was willful. TCPA class actions covering thousands of numbers have produced verdicts and settlements in the millions.

Is there a separate national Do Not Call list number for the FCC versus the FTC?

No. There is one national registry, run by the FTC at donotcall.gov, with the registration number 1-888-382-1222. The FCC enforces the TCPA separately but runs no registry of its own. Both agencies coordinate. Consumers file complaints with the FTC through donotcall.gov or with the FCC through its consumer complaint center.

Do state Do Not Call lists cover the same numbers as the federal list?

No, they're separate databases. Registering at donotcall.gov covers you federally. States like Florida, Indiana, and Pennsylvania run independent lists that need separate registration. State lists can provide protections beyond federal rules. If you live in a state with its own list, registering on both gives you the broadest coverage.

How often do telemarketers have to scrub against the Do Not Call registry?

FTC rules require scrubs no more than 31 days before a call is placed. A business that downloads the registry and reuses it for 60 days is out of compliance even if no new registrations showed up. Most compliance programs set a 30-day refresh cycle to stay comfortably inside the window.

Can a company call me even if I'm on the Do Not Call list if I gave them my number?

Yes, if you gave them your number and agreed to receive calls, that's prior written consent under the TSR and TCPA. An existing business relationship (a recent purchase or inquiry) also gives them an 18-month window. To stop these calls, tell the company directly not to call you. That triggers a company-specific do-not-call obligation.

What is the FCC do not call list and how is it different from the FTC's?

They point to the same national registry. The FTC built and runs the database under the Do Not Call Implementation Act of 2003. The FCC enforces the TCPA's do-not-call rules separately and requires carriers to comply with STIR/SHAKEN caller ID authentication. You can file TCPA complaints with the FCC, but registration itself happens through the FTC's donotcall.gov.

Does registering on the Do Not Call list stop text messages?

Not directly. The registry was built for voice calls. But unsolicited commercial texts sent with an autodialer to a mobile phone without prior express written consent violate the TCPA regardless of registry status. Report unwanted commercial texts to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and to the FCC. You can also forward spam texts to 7726 (SPAM) for carrier-level action.

Sources

1. Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute, 47 U.S.C. § 227 (Telephone Consumer Protection Act): TCPA private right of action: $500 per violation, $1,500 for willful violations; prohibition on autodialed calls to cell phones without consent
2. FTC.gov, Telemarketing Sales Rule (16 CFR Part 310): TSR requires telemarketers to scrub call lists against the registry no more than 31 days before placing calls; Do Not Call Implementation Act authority
3. DoNotCall.gov, National Do Not Call Registry official portal: Registry has 244 million active registrations as of FY2023; registration number 1-888-382-1222; 31-day grace period for telemarketers; mobile numbers eligible; verification and reporting tools
4. FTC.gov, press releases and news archive (Do Not Call Improvement Act of 2007 implementation): Registrations made permanent effective February 2008 under the Do Not Call Improvement Act of 2007
5. FTC.gov, enforcement actions and civil penalty inflation adjustments: Maximum civil penalty of $51,744 per TSR violation as of the 2024 inflation adjustment; multi-hundred-million-dollar robocall enforcement actions in 2022-2023
6. FTC.gov, consumer advice on robocalls: Many robocallers operate from outside the US using spoofed caller IDs, making registry enforcement against them difficult
7. FTC.gov, Telemarketing Sales Rule (16 CFR Part 310), preemption provisions: Federal registry preempts less protective state laws; states may enforce laws that give greater consumer protection
8. DoNotCall.gov, data access for telemarketers and organizations: Telemarketers can access up to five area codes free per year; additional area codes cost $76 each; full national access capped near $20,955 per year, adjusted annually
9. FTC.gov, report fraud and unwanted calls: Official federal portal for reporting unwanted calls and telemarketing violations