"Do not call" quiz
Is it time to brush up on "do not call" rules? Since legislation for the National Do Not Call Registry was passed in 2003, call centers across the country have had to adjust processes to comply with "do not call" regulations. The registry, which erects a barrier to telemarketing, has also made things more difficult for those designing marketing campaigns. This quiz tests your knowledge of the history behind the National Do Not Call Registry and its impact on the call center industry.

To get the answer and learn more, open the answer page link that follows each question.

1. What is the basic rule regarding outbound dialing in the call center, whether it's fully automated or manual?

a) Enterprises cannot call a customer at any time, even if they have a pre-existing relationship with that customer.
b) Enterprises can call a customer with whom they have a pre-existing relationship.
c) Enterprises can call a customer only if that customer has asked them to call.
d) Enterprises can call a customer only if the customer has bought something from the business in the past.

Read answer #1 here

2. What types of organizations are exempt from "do not call" restrictions?

a) Political organizations
b) Charities
c) Survey takers
d) All of the above

Read answer #2 here

3. True or False? Many companies today are employing creative tactics to get around the National Do Not Call Registry.

a) True
b) False

Read answer #3 here

4. True or False? A call center operating on behalf of a mortgage company is allowed to call existing customers to solicit them for a refinance opportunity.

a) True
b) False

Read answer #4 here

5. True or False? According to some analysts, "do not call" compliance is expected to drive investment in predictive dialers, and the trend toward call center outsourcing will mean steady investment in interactive voice response (IVR) systems.

a) True
b) False

Read answer #5 here

6. Before the federal "do not call" legislation passed in 2003, what was the biggest concern from vendors?

a) Executives worried that they wouldn't have work for former telemarketers.
b) Executives worried that it would be hard to train employees on "do not call" processes.
c) Executives worried about how they were going to make up for the loss in revenue resulting from "do not call" lists.
d) Executives worried about lawsuits.

Read answer #6 here

7. True or False? Officials at the Federal Trade Commission deem the National Do Not Call Registry a success.

a) True
b) False

Read answer #7 here

8. True or False? Some states operate a "do not call" registry in addition to the federal registry.

a) True
b) False

Read answer #8 here

9. True or False? In both the federal and state "do not call" registries, there is no expiration date on a resident's registration.

a) True
b) False

Read answer #9 here

10. The federal "do not call" program is paid for by telemarketers, who must buy the lists of people who don't want to hear from them. If a telemarketer disobeys the "do not call" registry, how much can they be fined for each call?

a) $500
b) $1,000
c) $5,000
d) $11,000

Read answer #10 here

This was first published in August 2007