State celebrates milestone for Do Not Call list

Many Floridians say there's a disconnect

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The phone rings -- a caller picks it up, only to be solicited by a business or telemarketer. The state is celebrating a milestone for the list that's supposed to be helping end those pesky phone calls, but many Floridians are saying there's a disconnect.

Amy Reznik signed up for the Do Not Call list hoping to stop the telemarketers from making the phone ring. But they're still calling and it's "very annoying," Reznik said.

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Reznik is unfortunately one of many Floridians who pick up the phone only to be pestered by a real person or a robot.

"The robo calls almost sound like a human, but, you know, that it isn't a human because you give them a response and it's not appropriate," Reznik said.

The Department of Agriculture said more than 1 million Floridians have their names on the Do Not Call list, with more than 900,000 signing up since fees went away in 2012.

"Florida's Do Not Call list is the most effective way to get rid of some of those calls, but some people still might receive calls," Department of Agriculture Press Secretary Aaron Keller said. "There are exemptions to the law, if you've recently done business with somebody, or charitable organizations are allowed to reach out."

Do Not Call list violations routinely top the list of consumer complaints into the department, but it said it is doing its part.

The department gave a list of the companies it has fined in the past year, some multiple times, totaling more than $1 million. But, so far, it has been able to collect just under $97,000.

The Department of Agriculture wants to hear from anyone still receiving the calls at FLDNC.com.