Do Not Call List Pennsylvania
Laura Martisiute
Reading time: 7 minutes
Table of Contents
If you live in Pennsylvania and are getting a lot of unsolicited calls, you need to know: “What is the Do Not Call List Pennsylvania?”
Read on to learn about this Pennsylvania-specific program that helps residents reduce the number of telemarketing calls and texts they receive.
We also show you how to register with the Do Not Call List Pennsylvania.
The TL;DR Version: Do Not Call List Pennsylvania
Here’s everything you need to know about the Pennsylvania DNC list at a glance.
- What it is: The Pennsylvania Do Not Call List is a free service that lets Pennsylvania residents add their cell, residential, and business phone numbers to a list of phone numbers that don’t want to receive calls from telemarketers.
- How to sign up: Fill out an online form, call 1-888-777-3406 (toll-free), or mail your name, complete mailing address, telephone number, and signature to the Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Do Not Call List, Strawberry Square, 15th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17120.
- How to verify your subscription: Search for your number online on the ‘Do Not Call Verification’ page.
- How to file a complaint: File a complaint online or call 1-800-441-2555.
- What to do if you’re still getting unwanted calls/texts: List your number on the National Do Not Call List and opt out from data brokers and people search sites that share your phone numbers and other personal details on their websites for anyone to access. Use our step-by-step data broker opt-out guides or subscribe to a data broker removal service like DeleteMe.
What Is the Do Not Call List Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Do Not Call List is a list that Pennsylvania residents can register their numbers on to reduce the number of unsolicited calls and texts they receive from telemarketers.
Signing up for the state of Pennsylvania Do Not Call List is free. Numbers remain on it indefinitely.
Unlike many other state Do Not Call Lists or the National DNC List, the Pennsylvania Do Not Call List allows state residents to place their business numbers on the DNC List (as opposed to just cell and residential numbers).
The Pennsylvania DNC list is maintained by the Direct Marketing Association, a nonprofit organization contracted by the Attorney General’s Office.
It is enforced by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
The list is updated every three months. Telemarketers are not allowed to contact the numbers on the state of Pennsylvania Do Not Call List within 30 days of getting the list.
How quickly your number appears on the list depends on when you register. For example, if you register before the 15th of September, telemarketers cannot call you after the 1st of November.
As the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General notes, if you miss the quarterly registration deadline, it will take up to 120 days for your number to show up on the list.
Exceptions to the Pennsylvania Do Not Call List include the following:
- Calls you request.
- Calls from businesses with whom you have an existing relationship, e.g., a bank with whom you have an account.
- Debt collection calls.
- Calls from tax-exempt charitable or fraternal organizations.
- Calls from veterans organizations.
- Calls made on behalf of political candidates or groups.
The Pennsylvania Do Not Call List is different from the national DNC List. It is recommended that you sign up for both.
Penalties under the Do Not Call List Pennsylvania
Telemarketers who violate the Pennsylvania Do Not Call List can receive a civil penalty of up to $1,000. The penalty can increase up to $3,000 if the person whom the telemarketer contacted is 60+ years old.
Pennsylvania Do Not Call List Registration
Pennsylvania residents can put their numbers on the Pennsylvania Do Not Call Registry by filling out an online form, by phone, or by mail.
Online
You can list your number on the Do Not Call Registry Pennsylvania online by following the steps below.
1. Go to the ‘Do Not Call List’ page on the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s website
Click the following link: https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/protect-yourself/do-not-call-list/.
This will bring you to the ‘Do Not Call List’ page on the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s website.
2. Click “Do Not Call Enrollment”
Scroll to the bottom.
Click the “Do Not Call Enrollment” link.
3. Fill out the form
You will see an online form. Fill it out.
Phone
Call 1-888-777-3406 (toll-free hotline) to sign up for the Do Not Call Register Pennsylvania.
Mail your name, mailing address, telephone number, and signature to:
Office of Attorney General
Bureau of Consumer Protection
Do Not Call List
Strawberry Square, 15th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17120.
How to Verify Your Subscription to the Pennsylvania Do Not Call List
To verify your subscription to the Do Not Call Pennsylvania List, follow the steps below.
1. Go to the ‘Do Not Call List’ page on the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s website
Click the following link: https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/protect-yourself/do-not-call-list/.
This will bring you to the ‘Do Not Call List’ page on the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s website.
2. Click “Do Not Call Verification”
Scroll to the bottom.
Click the “Do Not Call Verification” link.
3. Search for your number
Enter the phone number you want to verify.
Click the “Search” button.
How to Report Do Not Call List Violations In Pennsylvania
If you receive unwanted calls after your number is published on the Pennsylvania Do Not Call List, you can file a complaint online or call 1-800-441-2555.
What Is the National Do Not Call List?
After registering for the Pennsylvania Do Not Call List, you should also sign up for the national Do Not Call List.
The national DNC List works similarly to the Pennsylvania Do Not Call List but is managed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
You can only add your cell and home phone number to the national DNC List. Business numbers are not permitted.
Once listed on the national DNC List, your number will stay there indefinitely unless you remove it or it is disconnected.
When published on the national DNC List, telemarketers are required to stop contacting you within 31 days. If they continue calling/texting you, you can file a complaint against them, and the FTC might enforce penalties.
As with the Pennsylvania Do Not Call List, some calls are permitted under the national DNC List. These calls include:
- Political calls
- Charitable calls
- Survey calls
- Calls from businesses you have an existing relationship with
- Calls for which you’ve given prior written consent.
What to Do If You’re Still Getting Unsolicited Calls
Registering for a Do Not Call List, regardless of whether it’s national or state or both, will limit how many unwanted telemarketing calls you get, but it will not, unfortunately, eliminate them 100%.
The main reason why is that scammers don’t care about Do Not Call Lists. They’ll continue calling and texting you as long as they can access your contact details.
Most people’s phone numbers are easy to find online through sources like people search sites and data brokers. These companies collect people’s personal details and then list them in comprehensive profiles on their websites for anyone to view.
Here’s what a typical data broker profile looks like:
To stop your phone number and other personal data from being published on these sites, you need to “opt out.”
See our opt-out guides for hundreds of data brokers.
Opting out once isn’t enough. You’ll need to revisit these sites periodically to ensure your phone number and other details weren’t relisted when the data broker found more of your data.
For a quicker and easier alternative to keeping your phone number and other personal data off data broker sites, consider subscribing to a data broker removal service like DeleteMe.
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