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FREEZE ON ‘COLD CALLING’
I read a post some months back with regards to drumming up business by telephoning prospective clients, I have just found the item below and thought it may be of some interest to people I.e. those that do telephone marketing or those that want their number blocked.
FREEZE ON ‘COLD CALLING’
From June 04 UK businesses will get the same right as individuals to block ‘cold calling’ by marketing firms under a new measure announced by Communications Minister Stephen Timms.
The move comes in response to concerns expressed by small businesses that they do not have the resources to cope with high volumes of cold calls.
UK businesses have the choice to opt out of direct marketing calls by writing to the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) and registering the relevant phone numbers. They will be given an annual reminder of those numbers in case they no longer need to be covered.
The TPS is an opt-out register for subscribers and was set up in 1999. Direct marketing firms have a legal obligation to check and comply with the list before calling, failure to do so can result in enforcement action by the Information Commissioner.
Registration will be free for corporate subscribers, as it is for individuals. However, corporate subscribers will be required to register in writing (e.g. by post, email or fax) in order to safeguard against bogus or inappropriate registrations (individuals may also register by phone).
Communications Minister Stephen Timms said: “Well targeted phone marketing can be a powerful tool but not all businesses are geared up to this and for small businesses in particular unwanted cold calls can be a real burden.
“Extending the right to register on the TPS to corporate subscribers will give businesses the right to opt out if they do not want this form of marketing.”
The change will take effect from 25 June 2004.
For further information on the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) please visit: http://www.tps-online.org.uk
For further information on the scheme and other provisions of the Privacy & Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations, please visit the DTI’s website at:
http://www.dti.gov.uk/industries/ecommunicatio … 258ec.html
Dan
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8 Replies
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Glad you posted this, I have been trying to find a way of stopping people ringing me at home at times of up 8.30pm. It made me so angry, especially when you say ‘im not interested’ and they start going ‘well why not?’ TAKE A HINT. So now I try to sell them t-shirts.
“before you ask me anything can I ask if you wear t-shirts or not?”
haha it cheers me up anyway, I know you meant this for businesses but its handy anyway.
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Hi
I take it that this only applies for the UK. Got a ‘cold call’ from the USA the other morning, trying to sell me ‘financial services’
Regards
Lee -
Hi all
I don’t know if this still works but when my father recieved such calls he used to say “I’ll just get my wife” and leave the phone off the hook for about an hour.
The caller could not disconnect until my Father had replaced the reciever thus tying up their line for an hour.You could play them some muzak if you felt so inclined.
He also rips up junk mail and posts it back in the pre-paid envelope.
Paul R(Mackerelbus Design)
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Here in Aus the law’s just been changed to something like the first post. I’ve registered on a web site that is a “do not contact notice “. I’ve not had so many calls.
One other thing is here if you get contacted by someone who has you on a list they have to take you off that list permanently if you ask to be removed from the list while on the phone with them.
Don’t make up excused like “There’s been a death in the family” or “I’m running out the door at the moment”…All the caller will do is to make a note on their computer to re contact in four weeks.
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TPS really does work
Try the Fax preference as well
Absolutely marvelous
Still get the odd call from Delhi or Florida but other than that TPS and FPS is great news :yeeha:
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This will not stop you from getting “cold calls” from all of the “crooks” that are out there 😕 I have registered with the telephone preference service and still get unwanted calls
The only thing that will stop these are if you take up the option to reject incoming calls with numbers that are with held. This facilty is now available in this country so ask your telephone provider to give you this.
I think it is wrong that any one should have the option to wtih hold their number when phoning you. If the phone companies were legislated to remove this option from those making phone calls then we would return to a situation whereby you would only be contacted by individuals and organisations that did not need to “hide” behind with held numbers.
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i second that one john! i signed up a while back,
it really does work, no more nusiance calls or faxes!! 😀Nik
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Excellent link thanks… The Fax one is the one I needed. ..
I don’t want to wind up a friend – lease a van – buy bankrupt stock – fly to america for £1… 👿
hope that will put a stop to it.When I get cold callers asking if they can speak to the owner, I say no sorry. They ask why? I tell them that he employs me to stop nusance calls! that usually stops them dead in their tracks…
Cheers Ian
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