from Internet research: This is a scammer, posing as a pollster. Don't pick up the call. They aren't covered by the Do Not Call List, since they purport to be asking for opinions, but they're really after your personal information. Picking up then hanging up will only garner you more such calls. It's best to ignore them. They use a variety of phone numbers and Caller ID identifiers.

Yes, they use both local and toll-free numbers, and you may have to call the local number to get off of their "the truck is coming" call list.

Scam. If you don't answer their calls, they'll drop you from their calling rotation for a while, but there's no way to stop them from calling you entirely, since they use a variety of phone numbers and identities in an effort to get you to pick up the phone, and they're not legitimate, so they won't honor do not call list requests. Be smart, and don't give out your personal information to unsolicited callers, but don't let these calls give you heartburn, either; they're not worth it.

market research firm (and thus not covered by the Do Not Call List), based in Utah. They have a toll-free number you can call to request that your number be put on the company's own do not call list: 1-888-388-5520.

This is apparently yet another number attributed with the "Credit Services" scam. They don't honor the Do Not Call List, and it's not worth calling back the number.

It's the NRA, and since they're chartered as a nonprofit, they can call you even if you're on the Do Not Call List. To get them to stop bugging you, contact them directly to opt out. Call 1-800-672-3888, or write to: National Rifle Association of America, 11250 Waples Mill Road; Fairfax, VA 22030. I found their contact info info on their website: nra.org Calling them would probably be more expeditious.

I plan to call them during normal business hours, and nicely tell them to stop calling me, because I don't agree with any of their policy positions. They should honor such requests.

This is a legitimate polling firm. If you call the number back, you'll immediately be given the chance to remove your phone number from their calling list. I did so, and I expect them to honor my request.

Survey companies are exempt from the Do Not Call list, by the way.

Automated survey conducted by the For a Better Chicago PAC. They have a website, forabetterchicago.org
I called the number back and left a message asking to be put on their do not call list.

fraudulent company, seeking people's personal information and/or money

Since they're not on the up-and-up, they don't honor the Do Not Call List, and likely won't go along with an opt-out request. Don't bother calling them back.

A charity that uses a great deal of the money it makes by selling donated items for fundraising expenses. See
military-money-matters.com for more details.

The BBB doesn't accredit them. See bbb.org for more details.

If you call the number back, there's no option to opt out. It's the same way with their regional (not toll free) numbers.

Don't waste your time calling this number back, or ranting about being on the Do Not Call List. These "charities" that pocket most of the donations they receive don't honor the Do Not Call List, because charities are exempt from it. Asking the company to put you on their own do not call list probably won't get you anywhere, since the firm isn't on the up-and-up. It's best to ignore the calls, and wait till they give up on you for a while. If you pick up, they'll know they have a "live one," and call you more often, not less.

This is one of the numbers for one of those companies that hope you'll give them your personal information in exchange for a credit card "deal" or a useless used car warranty. Don't take the bait! Ignore the calls; asking them to put you on their do not call list won't stop them from calling, since the firm isn't legitimate.

This is one of those telemarketing firms that collects money for charities that do not do much philothropic work. Most of the money goes to "overhead." The guy I talked with was asking for money for a police fund. Most of the "police organizations" that make cold calls aren't very legitimate.

You're likely to get disconnected after being told you'll be transferred to an agent, since oftentimes none of the call center staff is free to take your call.

Don't bother calling back the number. I would be surprised if they honored "Do Not Call" requests, too.

This was a phone ad for some sort of job line. They left a voicemail message, but I didn't listen to it in its entirety.

This is one of those lovely companies trolling for people's credit card information by offering you lowered interest rates or extended auto warranties. Don't bite! The best thing to do (assuming you have Caller ID) is to ignore any call whose number you don't recognize, and see if the person who's calling leaves a message.

This company doesn't honor do not call list requests, so don't even bother. Trying to call them back is a waste of time, too. If you don't pick up any of their calls, they'll give up on you after a few days, then leave you alone for several months.

After doing a bit of Internet research, I've concluded this is one of those companies posing as a legitimate charity fundraising firm. (They'll keep a sizeable chunk of whatever cash they're able to get out of people.) I no longer pick up any calls that show up as "Chicago Call" on Caller ID, and I've never missed a legitimate call that way.

If you pick up one of these calls, and you get disconnected after being asked to wait, that means no agent was free to call with you after the autodialer called your phone number.

Don't give these people any money. If you do, you'll get quite a few more solicitations. Telling a representative from a shady fundraising firm like this one to put you on their do not call list is a waste of time, too.

Don't answer the call. Instead, call their direct toll free line, 1-800-942-1970, ask to be put on their do not all list, and they'll honor your request. Political organizations are not bound by the national Do Not Call list, but the legitimate ones will stop calling if you contact them directly and ask nicely. This one uses a call center, so it may take a while for the call center personnel to stop calling you after you make your request.

The Presidential Coalition has a website: presidentialcoalition.com

I hope all of these companies hawking bogus car warranties get run out of business!

This appears to be a legitimate organization. Political groups are exempt from the Do Not Call List. I called the number back, and asked to be put on their do not call list. I hope they'll honor my request.

The group's website is: crnc.org

This is a scammer, pretending to be a legitimate caller, and hiding behind a legitimate-looking phone number. The companies behind these scams are relentless. We just let our voicemail greet them, since asking to be taken off of their call list is a waste of breath. The employees are rude, too.

Oh, and if you call the number back, it'll take a few seconds for the electronic greeting to end and for your call to be forwarded to a live phone representative.

National City Bank is conducting a customer satisfaction survey. If you don't wish to receive these calls, call the number back, and politely tell the person who answers that you would like to be taken off of their call list. They should honor that request, since they'd like to keep your business. This is a legitimate survey; it's not a scam. (It may take a few days for them to take you off of their call list, though, depending on their setup.)

If no one's on the other end of the line if you pick up the call, that means that all of the phone representatives are busy at that time.

I chose to go ahead and answer the phone rep's questions, but made it clear that we do not wish to receive further survey calls from the bank.

LifeSource has a website where you can set up an account and put yourself on their do not call list: lsbrighten.org

I called their main phone number, 1-877-543-3768, and told the woman I spoke with that I wish to be on their permanent do not call list. She said it'll take 48 hours. I hope this will work. If it doesn't, they'll be hearing back from me.

From comments posted elsewhere on the Net, this looks to be a professional fundraiser. It may be legitimate, or it may be one of those companies that pockets most of the money it raises for "charities." Either way, it's exempt from the Do Not Call List, unfortunately. (A legit charity fundraiser will keep its own list and abide by people's requests, though.)

This is a conservative organization seeking new members. It appears to be legitimate. Since they're a nonprofit, they're exempt from the Do Not Call List, but they should take you off of their own calling list. If you call the number back, you'll get a recording that gives you the option to do so. They also have a toll-free number: 1-866-872-0811.

They apparently don't have enough people picking up calls when they autodial numbers. That would explain why there's no one on the other end of the line when people answer their calls.

National Committee for Faith and Family
1006 Pennsylvania Ave. SE B
Washington, D.C. 20003

website: faithandfamilyonline.org

Don't expect them to honor your Do Not Call List registration. They're fraudsters, and they don't care if you're on the list. Don't try calling back the number; they use a fake one. You can ask them to stop calling you till you're blue in the face, but it won't work. The best thing to do is to stop picking up their calls. They'll occasionally use a person's name on the Caller ID, but usually, they use something like "Florida Call."

Did not leave a message. Will not be picking up their calls.

This is the usual song and dance about a "special offer to lower your interest rate." Don't take them up on their offer; they won't do anything for you besides take your money. The number listed on Caller ID is fake, so don't bother calling it back, either. Since they're not a legitimate company, they ignore the Do Not Call List, so lecturing them about that won't help you any.

This is the first time they've called using a person's name on Caller ID. Next time someone calls with such a generic-looking name I don't recognize, I won't be picking up the phone.

Don't call the number back; they disguise their phone number. The caller is seeking your personal information, probably for the purpose of identity theft. We owe nothing to credit card companies, so I know this isn't legitimate.

This is a legitimate phone survey company, not covered by the Do Not Call List because survey firms are exempt. There wasn't a representative available when I picked up their call. I called them back and got a recording giving me the option to remove my number from their current survey phone list. I did so, and expect them to follow through on it.

Being on the Do Not Call list does NOT exempt you from all calls you consider annoying, people! You'll still receive calls from polling/survey firms, political campaigns, charitable groups (and fraudulent firms claiming to be fundraisers), and/or companies with which you've done business in the past. Simply don't answer the calls, or pick them up and say, "Take me off of your call list," to the representative when there's one on the other end of the line. It's a lot more effective than hanging up or being rude.

You can fill out a form online to stop Bank of America from giving your personal information to other companies:
www6.bankofamerica.com

Fraud! If you have a Bank of America account, don't give them any information. They're looking for suckers to give them their personal financial information.

Did not leave a message. Supposed to be a fundraiser for progressive organizations (ACLU, PETA, etc.). I'll not be answering their calls. Hope they'll stop!

If you've given this company your Social Security Number, you should visit the FTC's website about what to do if your personal information has been compromised:
ftc.gov

We've received calls from this group in the past. Don't give them any information. They're not a legitimate company. We simply don't pick up.

This company calls, then asks for random people. They're hoping you'll give them enough personal information so they can then start calling and asking for you. They'll hound you for money from a debt you already repaid, or a debt you never incurred. I wish someone would put them out of business! I'm not sure having their number blocked would do any good, since they use a variety of phone numbers when generating their calls.

recorded message about a job hotline
I wonder how they got my number.

I called the number back. The first person I talked with hung up on me when I refused to give her my name, but the second person said our number could be taken off of their calling list. We'll see if they follow through on this.

collections company of some sort, or a scam
I tried calling the number, and they wouldn't identify themselves, so I believe they're a scam.

Wow, I disagree with just about every single position this group espouses. I look forward to telling them that when I get one of their reps on the line.

The number that shows up on caller i.d. is not correct. I called 877-266-6277, got a real person on the line, and asked to be taken off of their call list.

This company does fundraising for nonprofit organizations and political groups.

I called their number, and got a message saying they only contact people who have donated money to one or more of their clients. The message said to leave a full name and phone number, and they'll take your number off of their call list once they ascertain on whose behalf they called.

Check it out:
charitynavigator.org

It's actually called the "Police Protective Fund." They're allowed to call people on the national Do Not Call List because they're registered as a charity, but they keep much of what they manage to squeeze out of people for "administrative" expenses.

I don't pick up their calls. I got a call from a legitimate police fund once, and it left a legitimate toll-free number I could call to get off of their calling list. This organization is relentless, and I'm not sure I'd trust them to take me off of their list.

If you call the number back, you get a detailed message about who they are (a legitimate opinion polling organization), and an opportunity to press "1" and leave them a message saying you'd rather not receive calls from them. That's what I did.

A general comment: Just because you signed up to be on the Do Not Call registry, that doesn't mean you can expect to receive no unsolicited phone calls! Nonprofit organizations, pollsters, political candidates, and companies with whom you've done business in the past are all free to call you. You'll want to speak with someone from the organization or company (or leave a message with them) asking them to stop calling you. Complaining to the FTC about them won't do anything.

The FTC can act only if a company or an illegitimate concern keeps on calling you after you have asked them to stop contacting you.

I think the aforementioned information should be posted on this web page. It seems many people who comment on here are unaware of it.

I've called the Times in the past and asked them not to contact me about "special offers." They respect that for a while, but then they start up again. Argh. Oh, well, I called the number and asked to be put on their do not call list again. You don't have to speak with anyone when you want to do that; it's the second menu option, and you leave a message for them.