The downside of this is that it won't prevent companies from collecting your data; it just prevents them from calling you. I've always found registering in a d

The downside of this is that it won't prevent companies from collecting your data; it just prevents them from calling you. I've always found registering in a database to object to database registrations that I didn't consent to a rather curious concept. If they call me, then at least I know who's brokering my data? I resisted signing up for the no-call register for a long time. For example, this is how I know that TNT/PostNL has sold my data to the post code lottery after I used their post forwarding service (you pay for the service, but they will still sell your data; at least, they did back in ~2011). I once had an extended fight with a charity (hartstichting) where they gave me all sorts of abuse after I insisted they tell me where they got my phone number from. They were offended that I could possibly object to a charity collecting my personal data from mysterious sources (I never found out where they got it from, I gave up pursuing after a while). Eventually I caved it as I grew exasperated and signed up. Now I live abroad and miss stuff like this :-( I got far too many calls when I lived in the UK (including one at 9am on Sunday; I was not especially kind to this person), and in New Zealand they will cram my post box so full of junk mail in just 2-3 days that I can no longer receive any mail :-(