Missouri has joined a growing list of states that are saying "no" to telemarketers. A law to help eliminate the number of telemarketing calls to residents' phones went into effect July 1.

The No Call Law prohibits telemarketers from calling households on the list, with some exceptions written into the law. Telemarketers covered under the law are not allowed to legally call about 588,000 Missouri phone lines that have been signed up for the list -- accounting for more than 1.4 million residents. Telemarketers found to be in violation of the law can face penalties of up to $5,000 per violation.

The law exempts certain types of telemarketing calls. Included in the exemption are callers seeking donations for certain charitable organizations; those trying to schedule an appointment for a licensed tradeperson; those already in a business relationship with the consumer; those that were invited or given permission to call, such as through a contest entry form; those from federally regulated businesses that maintain their own "no-call" list; and those who are working out of their homes and are responding to a referral.

Legislative efforts to close several exemption loopholes were unsuccessful during the session that ended in May.

As of April 2001, at least 22 states have particular telemarketing acts known as "do-not-call" laws.