Were you one of the first persons to sign up for the Do Not Call Registry in 2003? If so, get ready to sign up again. The numbers on the registry have a five-year shelf life and then get deleted.

“It is incredibly quick and easy to do,” Lydia Parnes, director of the FTC’s bureau of consumer protection, said in an interview with The Associated Press this week. “It was so easy for people to sign up in the first instance. It will be just as easy for them to re-up.”

People can register their home and cell phone numbers or file complaints at http://www.donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222.

Some facts:

  • Penalties for marketers who call numbers on the list include an $11,000. fine.
  • More than 149 million phone numbers have been registered
  • Organizations engaged in charitable, political or survey work are exempt. Companies that have an established business relationship with a customer also may call for up to 18 months after the last purchase, payment or delivery.

And some people will harp at anything.

However, Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Pa., says people should not be forced to re-register to keep telemarketers at bay. Doyle introduced legislation this week, with bipartisan support, to make registrations permanent.

Considering the benefits of the registry, I think re-registering is a small price to pay. Anything to avoid those pests.