GATINEAU – The new list of people who can’t just ignore a ringing phone during dinner, or who have never heard of call display goes live on September 30th.
Actually, it’s called the National Do Not Call List (DNCL) and the CRTC will launch it in two months, the Regulator said Wednesday.
Consumers will be able to register on the National DNCL for free to reduce the number of telemarketing calls they receive.
“For many Canadian consumers, the National DNCL will come as a relief to the nuisance of telemarketing calls,” says the CRTC release.
The DNCL will, however, have some exemptions. Consumers may still receive calls from registered charities, political parties, and newspapers seeking subscriptions. Companies with whom a consumer has an existing business relationship will still be able to call, as well as those conducting surveys.
When consumers choose to sign up, calls will not stop immediately because telemarketers will have 31 days to update their calling lists. If consumers continue to receive non-exempt calls 31 days after they have registered they will be able to file complaints with the National DNCL operator.
To put their numbers on the National DNCL, consumers will be able to log on to www.LNNTE-DNCL.gc.ca as of September 30, 2008, and follow the instructions, or call 1-866-580-DNCL (3625).
Bell Canada will manage the list.
The Canadian Marketing Association said it welcomes the list – as it was one of the agencies which worked on the rules surrounding it.
"The existence of a national do not call list will not prevent our members from conducting business. On the contrary, it will be good for consumers and for marketers alike,” said John Gustavson, the CMA’s president and CEO.
"Adhering to this list will allow organizations to market their products and services more efficiently by ensuring that they are allocating their marketing budgets appropriately."
The association has operated its own Do Not Call service since 1989 which is compulsory for its members. The association’s Do Not Call registry has over 600,000 phone numbers registered.
