Nothing seems to be able to stop cold calling, which is sometimes abusive.
Despite the regulations put in place, seven out of ten French people regularly receive unwanted calls.
Could a senator's new proposal be a solution?
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The 8 p.m.
“Every 10 minutes, someone calls me to save money on electricity”deplores a passerby interviewed in the report at the top of this article. And yet, since last year, telephone canvassing has been strictly regulated. It is authorized during the week, but only from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and it is prohibited on weekends. Not enough, 7 out of 10 French people regularly receive this type of call.
“Each time, it’s a different number that comes up. Afterwards, I know that there are sites on which you have to register, etc.“, testifies a man. This site is Bloctel. The principle is simple: if you do not wish to be canvassed by companies, you just have to enter your telephone number and it will be removed from the canvassing lists companies In theory, because in reality, only voluntary companies registered on Bloctel remove your number from their lists Only 2,300 play the game… a grain of sand compared to the 100,000 other professionals carrying out work. canvassing.
Many frauds start with cold calling
Pierre-Jean Verzelen, senator from Aisne, author of a bill banning telephone canvassing
And even for the 2,300 goodwill companies, there is an exemption: “The Bloctel system allows cold calling for professionals with whom you have a current contract. They can continue to approach you if the commercial proposal is related to the subject of your contract”, explains Cédric Musso, director of political action at UFC-Que Choisir. Result: Bloctel ultimately does not block much.
So an elected official pleads for radical change. “What I am proposing is to ban cold calling. Tomorrow it would be the consumer who would decide to contact the company, who would give their contact details to say 'Call me'”explains Pierre-Jean Verzelen, senator from Aisne (Les Indépendants Group – Republic and territories). A system already in place in some of our neighbors, such as Germany, the United Kingdom and Portugal.
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His bill, tabled on September 30, provides for a ban in principle on telephone canvassing. The only exceptions: when the consumer “has explicitly consented to being approached by registering on a consent list”when canvassing “takes place within the framework of the execution of a current contract and is related to the subject of this contract”and finally when he “concerns the supply of newspapers, periodicals or magazines”.
“Many frauds start with cold calling”observes Pierre-Jean Verzelen in the columns of the Union to justify his initiative. The text must be examined in the Senate on November 14.
