Clark Howard's Tips

February 11, 2008

President Bush will sign a bill to extend protection for those on the Do Not Call list. Telemarketers were poised to start dialing up millions who were just about to go off the registry, so the move is a timely one. So many people have registered for protection that those who haven't are just slammed with extra calls now. Now some telemarketers are even beginning to call cell phones.

If you haven't registered on the list, do it now. If you register and still get calls on your cell, the solicitors are either breaking the law or they may qualify for an exception that allows banks and brokerage houses to share your info among all their affiliates.

When you set up new accounts of any kind, you should not give out your cell phone number. If you no longer have a landline, Clark recommends that you get a GrandCentral number, which is like a "fake" home number.

Consumer advice courtesy of