Friday, September 5, 2003

Georgia's No Call Program makes changes

The Georgia Public Service Commission announced a number of proposed changes to the state's No Call Program beginning November 1.

Under the proposed changes,Georgia residential and wireless telephone customers will be placed on the Georgia No Call list free of charge simply by registering their phone numbers with the new Do Not Call lists maintained by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

There is no fee to register on the federal list. Consumers can register with the federal list on-line at www.donotcall.gov or by calling toll-free 1-888-382-1222. (You must call from the telephone number that will be registered with the list.)

After November 1,Georgia consumers will register directly with the federal no call list. They will then be automatically registered on the Georgia List. Since the consumer will be on both the state and federal lists, both the state and federal Do Not Call laws will protect them.

Currently, Georgia customers pay $5 every two years to be on the state's No Call list. With over 200,000 customers signing up or renewing with the Georgia list every year, Georgians will save almost $1 million per year under the proposed changes. In addition, the move will save about $500,000 in this year's Commission budget.

"This a win-win situation for Georgia consumers," according to Commission Chairman Robert B. Baker, "We have found a way to save the taxpayers money while increasing our services to the consumer."

The Governor's Office of Consumers Affairs enforces the Georgia No Call List. Over 70 companies across the country have paid fines for violations of the No Call legislation in 13 states.

Since becoming operational in 1999, the Georgia No Call List has dramatically limited the number of telemarketing calls that are placed to the homes of individuals who have registered their objections to receiving these types of calls.