A recent change by the  Australian Do Not Call Register makes it easier for people wanting to opt out of unsolicited telemarketing calls long term, as registrations of numbers are now permanent.

Previously, numbers on the Do Not Call Register expired after eight years and had to then be re-registered.

ACMA chairman, Chris Chapman said:

“This means that the more than 10 million numbers currently on the register will never need re-registering. For anyone wanting to opt out of unsolicited telemarketing calls and marketing faxes long term, any new registrations will also be valid permanently.”

Of the 10 million numbers on the register at the moment, 57% of these are fixed-line numbers and 43% are mobile numbers.

According to ACMA research, 38% of people who received unsolicited telemarketing calls found them annoying or a nuisance.

Almost 90% of people on the register reported material reduction in unsolicited marketing calls after registration.

Marketers have checked over 8.5 billion numbers against the register since its launch in May 2007.

It is illegal for most unsolicited telemarketing calls or marketing faxes to be made to numbers on the register under the Do Not Call Register Act 2006. Marketing calls from registered charities, market researchers, educational institutions and registered political parties are permitted.

Calls from businesses the recipient already has an established relationship with are also permitted.

All marketing calls are subject to certain rules that limits the hours calls can be made, enables calling line identification and terminates calls upon request.

Australian mobile, landline and fax numbers used for domestic or private purposes are eligible to be registered. People on the register can still check or remove their numbers at any time.