OTTAWA-GATINEAU – The Ontario Consumer Credit Assistance and Quick Connect Solutions have paid $80,000 in penalties as part of a settlement over their debt consolidation robocalls after being investigated by the CRTC.
The CRTC issued two notices of violation after its investigation found that Ontario Consumer Credit Assistance and Quick Connect Solutions, both based in Brampton, Ont., had failed to comply with the telemarketing rules. These companies used automated calling devices, also known as robocalls, to promote their services to consumers without obtaining prior express consent. Ontario Consumer Credit Assistance paid a $69,000 penalty, and Quick Connect Solutions paid $11,000.
“We appreciate that Ontario Consumer Credit Assistance and Quick Connect Solutions fully co-operated with our investigation and committed to changing their telemarketing practices,” said Andrea Rosen, the CRTC’s chief compliance officer, in a statement. “We will continue to work with telemarketers to ensure they are obeying the rules at all times. Canadians are encouraged to file a detailed complaint each time they receive an unwanted telemarketing call.”
In addition to paying monetary penalties, Ontario Consumer Credit Assistance and Quick Connect Solutions have agreed to:
- immediately cease making robocalls to promote or sell services and products without obtaining the recipient’s express consent
- publish a corrective notice on Ontario Consumer Credit Assistance’s website
- review their compliance programs and appoint a compliance officer to ensure ongoing adherence with the CRTC’s telemarketing rules
- implement training and education programs for staff
- provide an annual report to the CRTC for the next five years, which must document consumer complaints and the steps taken to resolve them
To date, the CRTC, which enforces the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules (UTRs) to reduce unwanted calls to Canadians, has taken corrective action with telemarketers, issuing more than $2.5 million in penalties.
