Thursday, May 03, 2007

Do Not Call Register

3 May 2007

Do Not Call Register launched

The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, launched the national Do Not Call Register today.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority is responsible for establishing and overseeing the Do Not Call Register, determining the fees telemarketers will be charged for accessing the register and for investigating breaches of the Do Not Call Register legislation. ACMA is also responsible for developing a national standard for minimum levels of conduct by telemarketers and research callers.

The Do Not Call Register enables individuals with Australian fixed line and mobile numbers to list their fixed and mobile telephone numbers on the register and opt out of receiving a wide range of telemarketing calls.

Registration of a telephone number is easy, quick and free.

From today, individuals are able to register their telephone numbers, if they are used primarily for private or domestic purposes, through the Do Not Call website, at www.donotcall.gov.au or by post.

Individuals will be able to register by telephone from 22 May 2007. It may take up to 30 days for a registration to become effective.

Under the legislated scheme, it will generally be unlawful to make telemarketing calls to numbers placed on the register from 31 May 2007.

http://internet.aca.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD//pc=PC_100642

1. How effective do you think this is? Will this kill the telemarketing industry?
2. What about telemarketing calls from other countries?
3. Can a consumer agree to some category of calls but not to others?

3 comments:

Vicky said...

This will kill the telemarketing industry...who enjoys receiving calls from telemarketers late at night and during the most inconvenient time??

Emma Gleeson said...

I'm not so sure Vicky - the register does not apply to offshore call centres. From my experience, the large majority of telemarketing calls I get are from India.

It sounds like it will just result in even more Aussie companies transferring their telemarketing offshore so that the register is not applicable

Jenny said...

There seem to be a number of exemptions e.g. opinion polling , standard question based research etc. Tele marketing companies will inevitably try a different approach and generate interest while complying with the standards and possibly try engage individuals to 'register'on line for example to reach their sales/ campaign objective.
It will have telemarketing companies think outside the square and re brand themselves but ultimately try achieve the same results.