CRTC Promises to Deal with Abuse of Do-Not-Call Registry

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CRTC Promises to Deal with Abuse of Do-Not-Call Registry

7:10 am on January 24, 2009 | Category: Telecom Services, Telephone, Regulation

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) plans to act quickly to deal with abuse of Canada’s do-not-call registry, according to Industry Minister, Tony Clement.

The do-not-call list was created to help consumers avoid calls from annoying telemarketers, but has actually worsened the problem for may participants, according to Consumers Association of Canada president Bruce Cran.

The list was made available to Canadian telemarketers for a minimal fee, but was apparently purchased by foreign scam artists who are now using it to call Canadian consumers. Canada’s do-not-call legislation provides for significant fines against those who break the rules, but it is very difficult to prosecute foreign callers. Nevertheless, the CRTC is vowing to do everything it can to deal with the problem.

“Upon learning that the list could be acquired and used illegally, I spoke to the chair of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, who has assured me it is taking these complaints very seriously,” Clement said in a statement. “It is the intent of the CRTC to aggressively pursue anyone abusing the use of the do-not-call list.”

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Funny how I personally wrote to Clement, and several others involved in this ‘do not call’ list. I worked for a telemarketing and market research company for 3 years and saw first hand how they abuse this list. I pointed out to Clement the loopholes and what to think about …. did not even get the dignity of a personal responce. More over it was a ‘we know what we are doing’ so thanks for nothing responce. LOL … so typical of this Conservative regime …. this all could have been avoided … to bad I wan’t important enough to listen to. My number is not on the list …. there are far more effective ways … good luck King Steve and your boy Tony

Comment by G — January 24, 2009 #
So typical of the CRTC; their way of solving a problem actually makes it worse.

Comment by Paul — January 24, 2009 #
I play along with the telemarketers pretend I am interested in buying whatever they’re selling so I can pump them for info. I use said info to ID them personally (using online obits, trade websites, facebook, classmates website, etc…) and I cyber stalk them and their families. I place fake Craig’s list “free” ads with their family phone numbers, etc…fight fire with fire. If that doesn’t work I verbally threaten to murder their family members especially their children. It works. Funny how a nice request to get them to stop neverworks, but threaten to decapitate their children - boom - phone stops ringing…

Comment by Jay — January 24, 2009 #
dont believe the government will actually do something about this. I contacted them on this months ago and they have never responded with a reply. Its just window dressing pandering to the publics perception that they actually are taking action.

Comment by gary — January 24, 2009 #
Telemarketing calls to my number have dropped to zero since joining. I had to inform one company that I was reporting them, but after that, nothing. No spam calls at all. I wonder if this effect is localised to a particular province?

Comment by Jen — January 24, 2009 #
I was wondering what is going on. Since I registered five or six weeks ago the telemarketing calls have actually increased!

Comment by Gary — January 24, 2009 #
I have received more telemarketing calls this week than ever before! I even got calls on my cell phone this week, as did two of my co-workers. They’re ALL from the U.S., including Illinois and Colorado.

I REALLY regret adding my number to the Do Not Call List!

Comment by GettingCalls — January 24, 2009 #
So what are we to do now then? Those of us who registered with iOpt out?

Comment by Mary — January 24, 2009 #
Yes. Indeed, the problem has worsened. Something that was created to protect the general public has rendered us vulnerable to these annoying telemarketers. I hope the necessary actions are taken to deal with this problem.

Comment by Ramon — January 24, 2009 #
Good luck with that. The CRTC doesn’t give a damn about Canadians. They deliberately leave open holes in their regulations because the whole group is corrupt.

I’d like to see a CRTC that actually has half a clue about what they’re truly dealing with. They could have a much bigger role in protecting not only Canadians, but also the technologies we as a nation produce and use.

Think about it.

Comment by Alex — January 24, 2009 #
We are not protected in any way by the canadian telecommunications commission, not only is our privet information on sale but the laws on brodcasting are not respected just look at the TV when its the advertising the voulum is much higer than the program you are watching years ago it was suposed to be the same,its not and nothing is done about it.

Comment by michael — January 24, 2009 #
If, instead of a do-not-call-list, they had a do-call-list, abuse of the list would not happen. I.e. nobody should be able to call unless you put your name on a do-call-list first.

Comment by Joe Carter — January 24, 2009 #
The do not all list, in my opinion, does little to stop annoying telemarketers. I followed the procedure to report a telemarketer. I have received 20 calls from this reported telemarketer since 10 Oct 08 (416-646-8802)including a call that just came in while writing this. My solution is a program in my computer that logs and zappes the unwanted calls after one ring.

Comment by Bob Ross — January 24, 2009 #
Canadian Roadblock To Communications
… should be disbanded.

Comment by BillR — January 24, 2009 #
This is your Captain speaking….

We get 4-10 calls a week….thanks CRTC…

Even on my cellphone!

Nice.

Comment by Zedeno Chara — January 24, 2009 #
I took my number off the do not call list yesterday. I was on it since it started and it didn’t stop telemarketer calls at all. It was irresponsible for the CRTC to let our numbers be bought & sold like that.

Comment by Albert — January 24, 2009 #
I almost put my number on the list and even went to the web site. I backed out at the last second because I had a bad feeling about putting my phone number on a list, which was going to given or sold to telemarketers. I just didn’t trust that my personal information would be protected. Telemarketers are criminals and criminals don’t care about laws. The politicians do not care about you. All politicians are self serving, lying criminals that are above the law. Nothing will happen! Nobody will be fired and nobody will go to jail. Just another scheme to line someone’s pocket with tax payers money. Too bad so many Canadians had to get burned, because of this ill con sieved scheme.

Comment by Jimmy James — January 25, 2009 #
I don’t understand why this is coming as a surprise when there were so many people against it from the beginning. Maybe in an idealistic world it would have worked. Clement can really do nothing but posture at the telemarketers/scammers.

It’s like e-mail harvesting on the net: the best way to not get on lists is to not give your info out at all.

Comment by James Durning — January 26, 2009 #
I agree with Jimmy. Telemarketers are nothing but lowlife criminals that take enjoyment in pissing people off.

When they call me I just try to sell stuff to them until they hang up.

Comment by Parch — January 26, 2009 #
Eric Sevareid’s Law:

“The chief source of problems is solutions.”

Nuff said.

Comment by Sean — January 26, 2009 #
We complained about the tons of illegal calls and Telus didn’t want to do anything about it other than for us to change our phone number. (of course at our cost!) It wasn’t until we seriously threatened with a law suit, did they finally decide to put us on the no call list.

I still get calls, of course ones that I cannot call back to (long distance) etc. If one reads the privacy terms of agreement with Telus, they do sell their info to other so called Telecommunications companies etc., but of course cover their behind with all the legal backup as stated.

If you even read the service terms of agreement, TELUS states they will NOT be held accountable of ANYTHING even if its their fault, that YOU ARE still responsible no matter what is the service problem.

HOW MANY PEOPLE KNOW THIS ABOUT TELUS? Are the other phone companies just as corupt or worse? CRTC better pull up their socks too!

The future is NOT friendy!

PLEASE STAND UP CANADIANS, our rights are further eroding!

Comment by Telus subscriber — January 26, 2009 #
Every day I get a call from some cruise scam. The first thing I hear is a ship’s horn and then the automated pitch. I get these calls on my land line and my cell day and night. They mask their number.
Even the duct/window cleaner who calls me 3 times a week laughed when I said I was on the do not call list and would report him.
Now they say they’re going to fix it. How? It’s a little late don’t you think.
Thank you very much CRTC.

Comment by Rick Beaufort — January 26, 2009 #
Telus has nothing to do with the do not call list…

Comment by Canadian — April 20, 2009 #
CARD HOLDER SERVICES

The calls do not stop. Cell phone, home line and business. Now its close to one a day. Trying to get off thier list has been futile. I am on the DNCL. I have made complaints on thier web and on the phone. I have informed the CRTC on the web and by phone. The numbers rotate so I can’t block them. Sometimes a number shows up and sometimes it doesn’t. At the end of thier message it always says that this is my final notice..but never is.

Comment by Russ — July 10, 2009 #