Consumers are registering with the National Do Not Call Registry by the millions. How will this new Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR), administered by the FTC affect your relationship with existing rental customers? Answer, not much.

According to the rule, a telemarketer or seller may call a consumer with whom it has an established business relationship for up to 18 months after the consumer's last purchase, delivery, or payment - even if the consumer's number is on the national "do not call" registry. In addition, a company may call a consumer for up to three months after the consumer makes an inquiry or submits an application to the company. And if a consumer has given a company written permission, the company may call the consumer even if the consumer's number is on the national "do not call" registry.

One caveat: if a consumer asks a company not to call, the company may not call, even if there is an established business relationship. Indeed, a company may not call a consumer - regardless of whether the consumer's number is on the registry - if the consumer has asked to be put on the company's "do not call" list.

Most states maintain some sort of No Call list. Some states will share their list with the FTC and some will continue to maintain a separate list. Follow the links below for more information on how your state will interact with the Federal rule.