Indianapolis - So many people were trying to get on the new cell phone Do-Not-Call list, that the A-G's office had to extend the deadline to the end of Monday.
You have until midnight to add your name to the list and get fewer telemarketing calls.
The deadline was extended because of huge demand. It was the most people signing-up since the Do-Not-Call list began nearly a decade ago.
After Monday, the total number registered could reach two million.
That is because the new statute allows you not only to register your landline number, but your personal cell phones as well. That will also protect you from unwanted text and video messages.
You will stop getting those unwanted messages starting July 1.
If you don't register by midnight Monday, you won't get on the do-not-call list until the following quarter. That takes effect October 1st.
Telemarketing companies in Indiana are required to purchase new lists each quarter. Once a number is registered, it stays on each subsequent list.
If you get an unwanted call, you have rights.
First, tell the telemarketer you are on the do-not-call list and it's illegal in Indiana to call someone on the list.
Then, file a complaint at the same site you used to sign up for the service.
"You go to the same Indianaconsumer-dot-com, file a complaint. We bring action. We take this very seriously. That's one of the reasons, by enforcing it strictly, it's kept people from violating the statute and then considering it the regular course of business to have to pay fines. We've been very aggressive going after this and I think people recognize that at home," said Indiana Attorney General, Greg Zoeller.
So far, the state has collected more than $1 million in fines.
Although Indiana has some of the strongest laws when it comes to phone privacy, there are some exceptions.
The list includes, insurance companies, non-profits, newspapers and real estate agencies.
