OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Six home-improvement companies have been fined $420,000 for making non-compliant telemarketing calls to Canadians, the CRTC said Tuesday.
Spurred by complaints, the Commission said that an investigation by its chief compliance and enforcement officer found that the companies called Canadians whose numbers were registered on the national Do Not Call List (DNCL). In addition, certain companies had failed to register with or subscribe to the national DNCL, made calls to Canadians during restricted hours, and used inaccurate versions of the list.
The companies and the penalties are:
– Just Energy Corp.: $240,000
– Green Planet Home Services Inc.: $90,000
– 4140800 Canada Inc. (operating as Coolheat Comfort Systems Inc.): $36,000
– Canglow Windows and Doors Inc.: $30,000
– Budget Heating and Plumbing Services: $12,000
– Natures Carpet Cleaning (2012) Ltd.: $12,000
The CRTC added that the six companies cooperated during its investigations.
“Today’s announcement shows how complaints submitted by Canadians about allegedly illegal telemarketing calls play an important role in our investigations”, said CRTC chief compliance and enforcement officer Manon Bombardier, in a statement. “The information they provide help us to identify trends and more effectively target our enforcement actions. We are committed to ensuring that telemarketers follow the rules and respect the privacy of Canadians.”
To date, the CRTC has imposed over $8 million in penalties payable to the Receiver General for Canada.
