Oregon Department of Justice

Attorney General Hardy Myers today announced the implementation of a new Oregon service for consumers who wish to limit the number of telemarketing calls that tie up their telephones.

"It is clear that most Oregonians dislike being disturbed by unsolicited telephone calls into their homes," Myers said. "The program will give consumers a more effective way to stop more of these calls."

On Myers' recommendation, the 1999 Oregon Legislature replaced the former "black dot" law with the Oregon "No Call" List program. The law directs Attorney General Myers to contract with an administrator to create and maintain a "no call" list. With some exceptions, telephone solicitors are generally prohibited from contacting consumers who register with the program. Details about the program and the exceptions are available on the Department's website at www.doj.state.or.us.

"Oregon is among the first wave of states to implement this innovative program," Myers said. "Unlike many other states, no tax dollars are used to fund the service because consumers and telephone solicitors will pay fees to the administrator."

Residential telephone subscribers wanting to register their numbers on the list can call the list administrator, Oregon No Call, at 1-877-700-NOCALL (1-877-700-6622) and ask to have a registration form mailed to their home. Consumers also may visit the Oregon No Call web site at www.ornocall.com. [UPDATE: The Oregon No Call web site is no longer operational. To sign up for the federal Do Not Call registry, go to www.donotcall.gov.]

Under the new program, consumers will pay a total of $9.50 over the first two years and $3/yr. for each additional year they remain on the list. "Under the old black dot law, consumers would have paid $12 over a two-year period," Myers said.

Registration forms may also be obtained by calling the Attorney General's toll-free Consumer Hotline at 1-877-877-9392 or (503) 378-4320 (Salem only) or (503) 229-5576 (Portland only). A list of the most frequently asked questions about the "No Call" list also is available on the Department of Justice web site.