Consumers have already registered 30 million telephone numbers on the new National Do Not Call List. In return telemarketers are trying hard to find loopholes and exemptions that will keep those phones ringing.

Savvy telemarketers are working hard to establish business relationships with sweepstakes companies to develop lists of unblocked phone numbers. For example, people may signup for the opportunity to win $25,000 or a car in return for their phone numbers and home and email address. The contest rules tell entrants: “Completing this form may result in a sales solicitation for water treatment, home care/indoor air-quality products, vacation travel, home security, home-based business, food service and other telephone solicitations.’”

Starting Oct. 1st, telemarketers who contact people who have registered their phone numbers with the Federal Trade Commission will be subject to a federal fine of $11,000 per call.

To register a phone number on the National Do Not Call List, visit www.donotcall.gov. People also can register by calling (888) 382-1222 from phones they want blocked.

The law does exempt calls from charities, market surveyors, pollsters, and calls on behalf of politicians. A company also may call a person on the do-no-call list if they have a “business relationship” with that person. Telemarketers can call anyone who has bought, leased or rented from the sponsoring company within the past 18 months or has asked about or applied for a company’s product during the past three months.

(via Knight Ridder Newspapers)