Blocking Unwanted Calls
The Indiana Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division is dedicated to protecting consumers from unwanted telemarketing calls.
In June 2015, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) declared that federal law does not prohibit phone carriers from blocking robocalls and robotexts before they reach residential landlines or cell phones. The Attorney General is urging telephone companies that do not currently provide comprehensive call-blocking service to make it available to customers as soon as possible.
Do Not Call List
All Indiana residents can register their home, wireless, or VOIP telephone numbers on the state's Do Not Call list at any time. The service is free and easy to use. The list is updated quarterly on the first of each January, April, July, and October.
To register your number click here.
You can also call 1.888.834.9969 to add your number.
If you'd like to verify your number is already on the Do Not Call list click here.
Once your phone number has been added to the list there is no need to re-register. However, you will need to update your registration if your phone number or address changes.
Who Can Call You - And Who Can't
Most telemarketers are forbidden from calling or texting numbers on the Do Not Call list. There are some telephone solicitors who are exempt from this law and may continue to contact you. These include charitable organizations and newspapers (whose calls are made by volunteers or employees), licensed insurance, and real estate agents. Effective July 1, 2019, the Indiana legislature extended the exemptions to financial institutions, persons licensed by the department of financial institutions under IC 24-4.4, IC 24-4.5, or 750 IAC 9, and communications service providers that offer broadband internet service. These entities may make sales calls to you as long as they already have an existing business relationship with you. An existing business relationship includes a transaction within the past 18 months or an inquiry from you within the past three months.
Robocalls
Technology enables telemarketers to dial numbers and deliver pre-recorded sales messages, known as robocalls. Indiana law prohibits this practice and requires a live phone operator to obtain permission before playing a pre-recorded message. Federal law makes it illegal to use automatic dialing equipment to call cell phone numbers. If you receive a call you suspect to be a robocall, even if your number is not on the Do Not Call list, you may file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office. Exceptions include calls from school districts to students, parents, or employees and businesses advising employees of work schedules.
Political Calls
It is illegal for political campaigns to robocall Hoosiers. If campaigns want to play a prerecorded message, a live operator must first have initiated the call and received the recipient's permission, either by a prerecorded request to leave a message or the recipient must have previously opted in to receiving such calls.
If an individual does not want to receive automated political voicemails, they should make it clear in their voice mail or answering machine prompt that they only wish to receive the name and number of the person calling.
Campaigns and political groups are allowed to make traditional "live" calls, even to numbers registered on the Do Not Call list, as long as the calls are not sales calls.
Campaigns can follow this guide to ensure they adhere to Indiana's telephone privacy laws.
Wireless Telephone Text Messages
The new law provides that a "telephone sales call" includes a text message sent to your wireless telephone number. If your wireless telephone number is registered on the Do Not Call list, then a telemarketer may not send you a solicitation by text.
National Do Not Call List
Indiana citizens may also register with the National Do Not Call list. For more information, visit http://www.donotcall.gov/ or call 1.888.382.1222.
Remove Your Number from the List
If you would like to revoke your registration, you may do so by clicking here.
Report Do Not Call Violators
The Attorney General’s Office is committed to ensuring Indiana’s Do Not Call law is enforced. If you are on the Do Not Call list and you get a call from a telemarketer after the relevant quarterly list update, you can report it by filing a complaint. You may also call 1.888.834.9969 to request a complaint form.
Please provide as much information as you can, including the name of the telemarketing company, the location from which they are calling, the name of the person calling the phone number, and the product or service they called to sell.
Once you've completed the complaint form, mail it to:
Data Privacy and Identity Theft Unit
Office of the Indiana Attorney General
302 W. Washington St., 5th Floor
Indianapolis, IN 46204