How to Handle Annoying Phone Calls

Nuisance phone calls, such as those from robocallers and telemarketers, have the potential to disrupt your mealtime, ruin a movie night, or even disturb your sleep. Fortunately, you have the option to report these bothersome calls online. If you're not listed on the Do Not Call Registry and the caller was a real person, it's advisable to report the call to the Federal Trade Commission. However, if you're already on the Do Not Call Registry or if you received a robocall, you'll need to report the violation on the registry's website.

Record the call details. Making a report will be more effective if you have all the necessary information at hand. Jot down details such as:

• The name of the caller
• The company they represented
• The date and time of the call
• The requested amount of money (if any)
• The payment made to the telemarketer (if any)
• The caller's number (if visible)

Go to the FTC's Complaint Assistant website and select Telemarketing. Visit ftccomplaintassistant.gov using any web browser. Click on the Unwanted Telemarketing, Text, or SPAM button located on the blue sidebar on the left side of the page.

• When you hover over the button with your mouse, it will turn green.

Respond to a few inquiries about your phone service. You'll be asked whether your phone number is registered on the Do Not Call Registry. If it isn't, select No. You'll also need to indicate whether the call was initiated by a robocall. If you interacted with a person, also select No.

• If you answer Yes regarding the Do Not Call Registry or robocalls, you'll be redirected to the registry's website to report the violation.

Complete the particulars of your complaint. Utilize the information you previously recorded. Provide the questionnaire with as many details as you can recall from the nuisance call.

• Complete this section without adding commentary; you'll have the opportunity to narrate the incident in a later section.

Furnish information about the company and yourself. If you have details about the company the caller represented, include them here. If not, that's fine. In the personal information section, provide as much information as you're comfortable with. It's entirely up to you how much information you wish to disclose.

• Remember, if you don't provide your contact information here, the FTC won't be able to follow up with you regarding the complaint.

Narrate the incident in your own words. Take this opportunity to recount the incident exactly as it occurred. Include relevant information such as the topic of conversation, the product being promoted, and the duration of the call.

• Another individual will read this, so ensure your spelling and grammar are correct, and stick to the topic.

Verify the information for accuracy before submitting. Double-check dates, names of individuals, and company names to ensure everything is correct. Once everything is confirmed, click the Submit button.

• If you need to make changes to any part of the questionnaire, click the Edit Information link next to it.
• Once you submit the questionnaire, you won't be able to make any further changes, so ensure everything is accurate.

Take note of your reference number. Keeping your reference number handy will assist the FTC in locating your case if you need to follow up.

• If you have additional information or inquiries, call 877-382-4357.
• The FTC may not contact you unless additional information is required, so follow up if you continue to receive nuisance calls after 2-3 weeks.

Visit the National Do Not Call Registry's complaint website. Access the site by entering https://complaints.donotcall.gov/complaint/complaintcheck.aspx into your browser's address bar and click the green Continue button.

Provide details of the phone call. You'll need to input:

• Your phone number
• The date and time of the call
• Whether it was a recorded message or robocall
• If you received a call or text message
• The purpose of the call
• If your number isn't on the Do Not Call Registry, you won't be able to proceed with the questionnaire and will need to register your number.

Complete the sections for company information, personal details, and comments. You'll be asked to provide details about the company that called you, your personal contact information, and any comments you have regarding the situation. Once you've filled everything out, click the green Submit button.

• Avoid sharing sensitive information such as your Social Security Number in this section.
• Your complaint will be submitted immediately upon clicking the Submit button, so ensure all your details are accurate before proceeding.

Wait for 31 days to observe if the calls cease. Unfortunately, the FTC doesn't resolve individual complaints. However, the information you provide will be added to a criminal database, potentially prompting government agencies to take action against the company responsible for the calls.

• If you receive further calls from the same company after 31 days, submit another complaint via the Do Not Call Registry's website. Increased complaints through the site can incentivize law enforcement to pursue offending companies.