A bit of surprising news has hit the interwebs today regarding the Canadian Do-Not-Call list.
This master list of phone numbers was launched by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission back in September to stop telemarketers from making unwanted calls. Canadian citizens could/can simply go to this website and enter their phone information. The information would be added to the list, and within 30 days a noticable difference should be seen in the number of unwanted calls from telemarketers soliciting various goods and services. Telemarketers are required to subscribe to the list in Canada, and are made to pay an annual fee based on the number of times they update their list throughout the year. Calling a registrant on the list could mean a fine of up to $15,000 per call. In theory it sounds great, but apparently there are some areas of concern regarding the application of the list.
In a report from the CBC, the Consumers’ Association of Canada President Bruce Cran noted that the list is actually having the opposite effect:
“It’s a travesty…Here we have all these people thinking they were getting rid of incoming phone calls. Anyone who is registered should suspect their phone number is being broadcast to the four winds.”
Cran goes on to explain that the CRTC is selling the registry list online, making numbers on the list readily available to anyone:
“In Toronto, you can get 600,000 names for $50…”
Oh my. My home and cell number is published on this list. Uh oh. Numerous businesses and citizens have noted that the number of unwanted calls they have received has actually gone up since adding their digits to the do-not-call list. What gives?
Speaking from my own personal experience, the Canadian ‘Do Not Call’ List has been a success for me. I registered right when the service became available (along with millions of other Canadians), and received what I was promised… The telemarketing calls stopped coming about a month later. I used to get 3 to 4 calls a day (VERY annoying), but now, I get maybe one a week. If the facts here are for real, I guess all Canadians may have to expect the number of telemarketing annoyances to slowly build-up over the coming year. Lets hope policies will change or something else is done to nip this in the bud.
Is it the National-Do-Not-Call List, or the National Do-Not-Care List? I’m beginning to wonder. The wheels are now in motion to put extensive pressure on the CRTC to get things back on track.
[Via: MobileSyrup]