About Time: Telemarketers

[hawkeye23]

I'll believe it when I see it:

TELEMARKETERS could be fined for pestering householders under a federal government proposal to introduce a national Do Not Call register.

The government today released a discussion paper canvassing options for a register that gives consumers the right to opt out of receiving telemarketing calls on their mobile or land line.
Companies that call a household on the register could face fines of up to $220,000 under the plan, which could be legislated early next year.

Market research companies, pollsters, charities and religious organisations are likely to be exempted.

Federal Communications Minister, Helen Coonan, said Australians were becoming increasingly frustrated by interruptions from telemarketers, particularly unsolicited calls that come from overseas call centres.

"It is clearly unacceptable that people's privacy is disturbed in this way," Senator Coonan told reporters in Sydney.

The paper states that Australia's current self-regulatory telemarketing system has been criticised for its "limited and ineffective" restrictions.

Complaints about calls are on the rise, with people most irritated about being called during dinner or their favourite TV show, the paper states.

Under the favoured model, all telemarketers would be banned from calling homes after 8pm on weekdays and 5pm on weekends.

Calls to anyone on the Do Not Call register would incur fines which, in the case of overseas call centres, would be footed by the Australian companies funding the marketing.

Senator Coonan said it was important the new laws balance the interests of the public with those of the telemarketing industry, which employs 700,000 people.

But she said the changes are unlikely to lead to mass job losses.

"Some of these jobs are fairly fragile jobs in any event and for those who work for legitimate operators their jobs are probably likely to be quite secure," Senator Coonan said.

The laws could also prohibit companies dumping their entire client list on the register to prevent competitors from contacting them.

"It will be up to individuals to put their mobiles or land lines on the list," she said.

The register, to be policed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, has been welcomed by the Australian Direct Marketing Association.

The federal government will accept submissions on the paper until November 30 and is expected to make a decision on legislation early next year.

Source: http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,17083364%5E1702,00.html

 

[Tormented Tiger]

Imagine if you dont put your name on "the dont call me" register.

 

[Leper]

Market research companies, pollsters, charities and religious organisations are likely to be exempted.

And that rules out how many of them? (Expect maybe Syd).

Senator Coonan said it was important the new laws balance the interests of the public with those of the telemarketing industry, which employs 700,000 people.

But she said the changes are unlikely to lead to mass job losses.

But how concerned is anybody really about the uneployment rate in Bombay?

 

[hawkeye23]

And that rules out how many of them? (Expect maybe Syd).



But how concerned is anybody really about the uneployment rate in Bombay?

Nice work in inferring Syd is a "pollster". Very good. I will pay that. Go back and take your kick, my good man!

 

[crudbucket]

But how concerned is anybody really about the uneployment rate in Bombay?

Mr personally ? zero interest I'm afraid..

 

[materamagic]

If you have got in in yer to tell em to fook off this shouldn't be a biggie, although they do ring at a most inconvenient time. I for one will be the first on that "do not call list"

He who wants seeks, should not be stalked or harrassed, no is no, these guys will try every trick in the book by the time the phone usually slams down and they are left in the middle of a ********e dribble

 

[big_pimping]

lol its about time they did something i reckon

 

[mantis]

So does that mean little johnny won't be using an Indian call centre to intrude on our privacy before the next elections?

 

[Kingpin]

It's about time.
As annoying as they are, the charities used to ring up at stupid times but at least they weren't ringing up with the rediculous frequency these overseas based telemarketers are currently doing.
I had 11 callers in three days here awhile ago, each time telling them "sorry mate I'm just heading out the door, bye" before they got a word in.
With respect to the possible 700k jobs lost, while deeply regrettable, surely the industry must've had some awareness that ordinary householders were not going to tolerate this continuous bombardment without possible recriminations? They've bitten off more than they can chew this time.
Had four ring me on Friday.

 

[Chuppa Chupp]

we have a very easy phone number to remember, and therefore get lots of calls from telemarketers.

they always call between 4.30pm and 6.15pm, so now, we don't pick up the phone between that time, and screen the calls through the answering machine.
friends and rellies know to say their name (or just say its me, pick it up) when the machine goes beep, and tele marketers 10 out of 10 times will hang up when the get an answering machine.