Louisiana Do Not Call List is a record of phone numbers of persons in the state who have elected to reduce telephone solicitations. These solicitations may be in the form of robocalls or spam calls. It is possible to differentiate such calls from live phone calls using reverse phone lookup applications. The list is regularly updated and maintained by the Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC). It is only available to residential telephone subscribers. As such, business owners cannot add their commercial phone numbers to the list. It has been operational since January 1, 2002.
Louisiana is one of the states in the nation that record a high number of unsolicited calls yearly. In 2019, it recorded over 1.6 billion robocalls, a 23% increase from 2018. To protect the privacy of Louisianians against unwanted calls, it became necessary for the State Legislature to enact a law in 2001. This law is known as the Telephone Solicitation Relief Act of 2001, and it created the Louisiana Do Not Call List. The provisions of the Act criminalize the practice of robocalling residents whose phone numbers appear on the Louisiana DNC List. It prohibits persons who engage robocalls in selling their goods and services and other telephone solicitations from contacting numbers placed on the list. Anyone who violates this law may pay up to $3,000 as a monetary penalty per violation of its provisions.
However, there are some exemptions to the Telephone Solicitation Relief Act of 2001. They include calls made for the following purposes:
- If it is in connection with legitimate debts owed by residents of the state, it is allowed.
- It exempts a call in response to a request by the called party, especially for inquiries on an advertised product or service. Such an arrangement, however, expires after six months of the first contact and will be deemed illegal to call such a client by then.
- Calls that are made to solicit opposition to or support for political candidates during elections.
- Calls to conduct public opinion polling that does not involve selling or requesting information that may be used for future telephone solicitations.
- Calls that are placed to persons who already have existing business relationships with the caller.
Is Louisiana Do Not Call List Different from the National Do Not Call List?
Safe for a few exemptions, calling the numbers that appear on the National Do Not Call List and Louisiana Do Not Call List is illegal. The different laws backing both lists prohibit such practices. These two lists are primarily for residential phone subscribers who wish to reduce telephone solicitations to the barest minimum. Phone users can register their numbers on the National DNC list and Louisiana DNC List for free. The state does not automatically add phone numbers on the Louisiana DNC list to the National DNC List. Consequently, residents are encouraged to also register on the national registry since there is no charge for doing so.
Despite serving a similar function, both lists have a few distinctions. These include:
- They are being managed by different government agencies. The Louisiana Public Service Commission is in charge of the Louisiana Do Not Call List. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) updates and manages the National Do Not Call List.
- Numbers registered on Louisiana Do Not Call List expires after five years. As such, residents must add their numbers again after five years of the previous registration. In contrast, any number enrolled on the National Do Not Call list stays there for life unless removed by the owner or the FTC. The FTC periodically purges the list for inactive phone numbers and numbers that have been assigned to new users.
- It takes between 30 to 120 days for an enrolled number to appear on Louisiana Do Not Call List. Registered phone numbers on the National Do Not Call List appear after 31 days of registration.
- Both lists have different platforms for filing complaints against violators. The Louisiana DNC list complaint channel is the LSPC complaint form, to be filled and sent via mail. The FTC's complaint assistant is for numbers listed on the National DNC list and can be completed online.
Registering one's number on these lists will not eliminate telemarketing calls. It will only reduce the number of telephone solicitations and expose potential phone scams. Use reverse phone number search websites to identify robocalls and prevent scams. Louisianans who are registered on the two lists and still get inundated by unwanted calls can file complaints with the LSPC or the FTC.
How Do I Register on Louisiana Do Not Call List?
You can register your number on Louisiana Do Not Call List using any of these methods:
- Register by completing and submitting an online registration form. To fill this form, supply your first and last names, mailing address, apartment address, and the city where you live. Also required is your residential phone number.
- Print the registration form, complete it, and mail to:
Louisiana Public Service Commission
Louisiana Do Not Call Program
Galvez Building, 12th Floor
602 North Fifth Street
P. O. Box 91154
Baton Rouge, LA 70821-9154
- Call 1 (877) 676 0773 from the number you wish to enroll on the list. The prompt will guide you in completing the registration.
What Should I Know about Louisiana Do Not Call List?
Registering on Louisiana Do Not Call List helps state residents to reduce the number of telephone solicitations. Registered phone numbers are compiled and stored in the database containing the phone numbers of all participants by the LPSC. The Louisiana DNC list is updated quarterly. Telemarketers are expected to update their records accordingly to prevent them from violating the Telephone Solicitation Relief Act of 2001. It takes a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of 120 days for numbers registered on the list to appear. See below a detailed cycle of the enrollment periods and expected dates of appearing on the Louisiana DNC list:
- If you register between December 2 and March 1, your number will be updated on the list by April 1.
- Registered numbers between March 2 and June 1 appear on July 1.
- Persons who enroll their numbers between June 2 and September 1 will have their numbers updated on the list by October 1.
- For registrations made between September 2 and December 1, the phone numbers will appear on January 1.
If you change your telephone number and still wish to participate in the program, you will have to register your new number. Numbers listed on the Louisiana DNC List will remain there for five years, after which phone users can decide if to re-register or not. It is possible to withdraw your number from the list. To do so, prepare a written request stating your intention and send via mail to:
Louisiana Public Service Commission
Louisiana Do Not Call Program
Galvez Building, 12th Floor
602 North Fifth Street
P. O. Box 91154
Baton Rouge, LA 70821-9154