The National Do Not Call Registry (NDNCR) stops the vast majority of telemarketers from contacting people who register their telephone number with the NDNCR. However, that being said, not all organizations are included in the NDNCR’s blocking list. This includes companies with whom you have an existing business relationship, as well as charities, religious groups, surveys and politicians.

Although most people may not consider a charity or survey call any different than a regular telemarketing call, the Do Not Call Registry does see a difference. The federal telemarketing laws do not cover nonprofit organizations because survey researchers and the companies that are making customer service calls are not selling a product or service, nor are they requesting a contribution.

Even though these specific organizations are exempt from the National Registry, you can still attempt to have them stop calling you by requesting to be placed on their internal do not call list. Unfortunately, since these nonprofit organizations are exempt from the NDNCR they are not required to maintain an internal or organization-specific do not call list.

Thus, if a charity ignores your request and calls you back, there really isn’t anything you can do about it. The best way to avoid the call would simply be to ignore the call when the number is displayed on Caller ID. However, you should still ask to be placed on their do not call list, as most nonprofit organizations will keep one to be courteous.

It is important to note, however, that should a nonprofit attempt to contact you by using a for-profit marketer, they must maintain an internal do not call list that you can request your telephone number be added to. Nevertheless, though they must have the company-specific do not call list, they are still exempt from the National Registry and can call you until you specifically ask them not to do so.

Despite the fact that you cannot file a complaint with the Do Not Call Registry when non-profit organizations call you, you can still stop telemarketers in your own way be complaining to other people who share your frustrations.