Saw this on the news a few days ago and forgot to post it:

Phone Numbers to Drop Off 'Do Not Call' List

'Do Not Call' Registry

You probably thought putting your phone number on the “do not call” list would put an end to the telemarketer's sales pitch.

But that peace and quiet will soon come to an end for millions of people.

In June, that peace may be disturbed.

That is when the five-year window expires for those who registered for the national "do not call" registry in 2003.

For the millions of people who signed onto the list in its early days, their numbers will automatically drop-off beginning next June if they do not register again.

to Register Your Phone Number Online
http://www.donotcall.gov/

Or Call Toll Free (888) 382-1222

Also remember that by doing business with a company (including sweepstakes) you authorize them to contact you. I'm not sure what the time limit is but they are not breaking the law by calling you after you've done business with them even if you are on the Do Not Call list.

The government has decided to not let the do not call list expire so if you are already on the list you do not need to call again. 

for once, common sense came to the rescue!   

Last week I got a call from a Michigan number. These people had the last 4 of my social. They had my credit report. Wanted to lower my interest rates. They even argued with me on how much I owed. I don't remember the name of the company., was too upset on how much of my info they had. They said they were working with my credit cards. I knew better. I called my credit card companies and they said they weren't working with anyone. I tried calling the number back and it said it was disconnected. It seems many shady companies from who knows where uses that number as an exchange number. Beware of anyone calling from 248-987-5656 or any number you don't know from 248 area code! I went and signed up for the do not call list and they called me again today from 248-405-2214, didn't answer and when I called it back it said not in service. This really TICKS ME OFF!!!!

We get calls quite often from non existent numbers.  They usually start out "Hello, this is Rachel from credit services"  I have pressed one and asked not to be called anymore, or yelled at them, or even swore at them in subsquent calls (as I got madder and madder about the calls    )  There is no way to get rid of them.  I ALWAYS answer my phone but have learn to hang up immediately. 

I hear ya- I keep one cell phone for sweepstaking ONLY. Hubby calls it the "bat phone". If I ever get an unwanted/errant call I use the trick my father-in-law taught me years ago:a couple of phrases in his native language-Czech- leaves them wondering and they never call again!