OTTAWA - The CRTC sent a blunt Do-Not-Mess-With-Us message Thursday about the Do Not Call List, hitting Bell Canada with a $1.3-million penalty for violating telemarketing rules.
The telecommunications regulator found that independent telemarketers hired by Bell in Canada and overseas made unsolicited calls to Canadians to sell TV, telephone and Internet services.
They called consumers who had signed up for the national Do Not Call List, or had asked Bell Canada to be put on the company's internal, no-calls list.
It is by far the biggest penalty the CRTC has ever slapped on a company for breaking the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules under the Telecom Act. Prior to last March, it had only imposed $73,000 in penalties after hearing 300,000 complaints.
But the commission suddenly upped the ante this month, the two-year anniversary of the Do Not Call List.
Last Friday, telemarketer Xentel paid $500,000 in fines for calling Canadians on behalf of unregistered charities.
After doing some initial digging on the practices of Bell's third-party telemarketers between January and October this year, the CRTC also came to a settlement with Bell Canada.
"I don't think $1.3 million is the cost of doing business for anybody," said Andrea Rosen, the commission's chief telecommunications enforcement officer.
"I think every company wants to be vigilant and conform with the law."
The regulator also found that Bell broke Do Not Call rules by using automated calling devices to contact prepaid mobile customers. Automated calling devices can only be used with a consumer's prior consent, or by police, fire departments, schools and hospitals with a public service message.
James Morton
1100-5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6P4
416 225 2777
2 comments:
Strange during the City Elections I got a total of 4 ROBOT CALLS from the guy who WON and 1 most of the others expect for the CANADIATE who I wanted to know more about go figure.
Best wishes for the NEW YEAR to all the readers of the BLOG etc.
Bell deserves this. I'm glad they got more than a slap on the wrist. i'm also glad that I am no longer one of their customers, as they'll undoubtedly recoupe the 1.3 million by increasing rates.
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