Missouri No Call statistics

Since enforcement of the Missouri No Call law began July 1, 2001, the Missouri Attorney General's Office has collected $1,075,500 for violations made by businesses that call telephone numbers registered on the Missouri No Call List, according to spokesman Scott Holste.

"That money goes right back into helping support the program because that's one of the things we're able to do to keep the program free for consumers," Holste said. He noted that in some states, consumers pay a fee to be on a "do not call" list.

There are 1,185,030 residential phone lines registered on the Missouri No Call List.

"We estimate that there are about two and a half people per household, per phone line, so the coverage extends to an estimated 3 million Missourians, out of a population of 5.6 million, so that's not bad," Holste said.

In addition to helping consumers avoid unwanted telephone calls, Holste said "do not call" lists such as Missouri's No Call List can be useful tools for telemarketers.

"We also view the list as a mechanism to tell telemarketers, These are the people who have no interest in buying goods or services over the telephone, so you might as well apply your resources to making other calls,'" he said.