May 20th, 2005

A little while ago, I received a forwarded email about calling an 800 number to remove my phone numbers from all telemarketer lists. After a little bit of research, it turns out it only applies in the states. I look up these forwards before I consider passing them on. I also found that there is, unfortunately, no Canadian do-not-call list registry.

As it stands, we Canadians have to remove our numbers from calling lists ourselves. This is made slightly easier by marketing associations who will tell their members not to call you. There are, however, many associations and countless telemarketers with no MA affiliation. It’s not a completely bleak marketing trap because there’s more you can do than just hang up. The Canadian Marketing Association is calling on the Canadian government to establish a national do not call registry which would be mandatory for all organizations that use the telephone to market their goods and services. You are asked to contact your local Member of Parliament to support such a service. If you don’t know who your local parliament member is, with the use of your postal code, or one nearby, you can find out who it is and get their contact information.

In addition, these are your rights when a telemarketer contacts you.

The CRTC, Canada's telecommunications and broadcasting regulator, issued a decision on May 21, 2004 which strengthens the regulations for telemarketers in Canada. The tougher rules are a result of extensive public consultations, and are effective October 1, 2004.

At the same time, the CRTC came out in support of the creation of a Do Not Call list, however it said the effective implementation of such a list and registry would require
adequate start-up funding
the appointment of an administrator of the list and database
the ability to charge fees to cover ongoing administrative expenses, and
the power to impose penalties on persons violating rules.
All of these would require new legislation.

Company-specific Do Not Call Requests

If a customer asks to be put on a company's Do Not Call list, telemarketers must act on the request during the same call, and not require the customer to call another number or take any other action.

Telemarketers must provide a unique registration number to any customer making a Do Not Call request to confirm receipt of the request.

When receiving a Do Not Call request, the telemarketer must ask if the customer wants the request to apply to just the specific organization's list, or to the telemarketer's full list of organizations.

Identification of Telemarketers

At the beginning of a call or fax, telemarketers must give information about the organization on whose behalf the call or fax is being made, as well as information on the telemarketer who is making the call.

At the beginning of the call or fax, the telemarketer must also provide a toll-free telephone number, or toll-free fax number in the case of telemarketing faxes, which the customer can call with questions or comments.

Both these pieces of information must be given before any other communication is made, including asking for an individual by name.
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