50-million phone numbers are off limits to telemarketers now that the Do-Not-Call list is in operation. But telemarketers have not necessarily crossed you off their list just because you've told them Do Not Call. Consumer Reporter Liz Crenshaw has details on just how the telemarketers plan to keep on ringing your bell.

About a third of U.S. residential phone numbers are currently on the Do-Not-Call Registry. There is some legal confusion about the registry that could be decided in court next month, but no matter how that works out, the telemarketers have not hung up when it comes to you and your phone.

Viewer
Telemarketers, I don't like it. I don't like the calls. I do not like them. I hate being interrupted, and I do have my name on the no call list.

Crenshaw
IT'S CLEAR AS THE RINGING BELL, AMERICANS DON'T WANT TO HEAR FROM TELEMARKETERS.

Viewer
I hate them, They're the most annoying thing especially when you're sit down to dinner at night.

Viewer Frustrated By Telemarketers
But if they would call I would say sorry my Mom's not here right now.

Crenshaw
THAT'S WHY 50-MILLION HOMES HAVE SIGNED UP FOR THE DO-NOT-CALL LIST.

Viewer
Uh, can't stand them. I try to be polite, but really I'm irritated by it

Crenshaw
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN TELEMARKETERS DON'T WANT TO KEEP CALLING YOU, AND THEY'RE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO WORK AROUND THE DO-NOT-CALL REGISTRY.

Prof. Ron Goodstein, Georgetown University
I believe without a doubt they will get around the Do Not Call List. I think it's too big a business. I think that if you look at the statistics they're sending out an average of over 100-million calls a day. To say good, they're going to disappear is ridiculous to even think that.

Crenshaw
RON GOODSTEIN IS A MARKETING PROFESSOR AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY. HE SAYS THE DO-NOT-CALL REGISTRY ONLY MAKES DIALING YOUR HOME PHONE MORE DIFFICULT FOR TELEMARKETERS, BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE.

Goodstein
They're going to be looking for ways to get around it and they're already finding ways to get around it.

Crenshaw
ONE WAY TELEMARKETERS CAN BYPASS THE DO-NOT-CALL LIST IS THROUGH SWEEPSTAKES. IF YOU SIGN UP TO WIN A CAR, A VACATION, EVEN A DREAM HOME, THE FINE PRINT YOU DON'T READ CAN RE-OPEN THE DOOR FOR TELEMARKETERS.

Goodstein
What they're actually signing is permission for any company that's sponsoring this event to be able to solicit them via telephone.

Crenshaw
So I'm back on the list?

Goodstein
You're back on the list.

Crenshaw
THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION SAYS IT'S KEEPING A WATCHFUL EYE ON THOSE TYPES OF SNEAKY SWEEPSTAKES PROMOTIONS.

Lois Greisman, FTC
You really cannot bury a consumer's right in fine print. That's just not something we're going to let you get away with easily.

Crenshaw
COUPON PROGRAMS CAN DO THE SAME THING, PUT YOU RIGHT BACK ON THE TELEMARKETER'S REGISTRY.

The idea behind a sign-up coupon program is I'll give you a valuable coupon that you might like. And what you're actually doing if you have to sign up for that coupon, you're giving the sponsors of that couponing event permission to put you back on the list. :

GOODSTEIN SAYS PLACING A CALL TO A COMPANY TO DO BUSINESS CAN PUT YOU BACK ON ITS LIST FOR 18-MONTHS. AND BY MERELY MAKING A TELEPHONE INQUIRY YOU GIVE THAT COMPANY A 3-MONTH WINDOW TO CALL YOU ANYTIME IT WANTS.

So my phone will start ringing again?

Greisman
Correct, and legally so.

Crenshaw
WHAT'S MORE, THE DO-NOT-CALL RULES STILL ALLOW CALLS FROM CHARITIES, SURVEY ORGANIZATIONS, AND POLITICIANS.

We asked the American Teleservices Association for an interview, but it's not commenting until after a November 10th hearing takes place. Until then it's asking its Telemarking members to comply with the Do-Not-Call list, and that appears to be working.

AS OUR DO-NOT-CALL SURVEY SHOWED YESTERDAY, TELEMARKETING CALLS ARE DOWN. OF 20-VIEWERS, 13 REPORTED FEWER CALLS, 6-NO CALLS AND ONE-JUST AS MANY CALLS. BUT PROFESSOR GOODSTEIN DOES NOT EXPECT THAT TO BE THE LAST WORD.

Goodstein
They'll probably get somewhere between a 50-60 percent reduction I would say for about the first 6 weeks while these people are scrambling to figure out how to get around it. Then look for the volume to go up again.

Crenshaw
SO HERE'S THE BOTTOM LINE. IF YOU GIVE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER OR EMAIL ADDRESS, FOR A SWEEPSTAKES, COUPON, WARRANTY, ANYTHING LIKE THAT, READ THE BOTTOM LINE. THE ODDS ARE YOU'VE JUST INVITED THE TELEMARKETERS TO START CALLING YOU AGAIN.