In November 2024, the Senate voted for a bill which will be debated by the National Assembly in public session on January 27, 2025. What will be the main points of discussion?
Tl;dr
- Proposed law could significantly limit telephone canvassing.
- The FVD fears the destruction of jobs and harm to SMEs.
- The law aims to combat public aid fraud.
Possible restrictions on cold calling
A bill, passed by the Senate in November 2024, is currently being examined by the National Assembly. This law could lead to significant restrictions or even a ban on telephone canvassing, raising serious concerns among the Federation of Direct Sales (FVD).
Concerns for employment and small businesses
The FVD, representative of 110 companies employing 150,000 people, is worried about the consequences of such a law. According to her, “This bill diverts its purpose to introduce restrictions which are not limited to the misappropriation of public funds”. The FVD fears a massive destruction of jobs, particularly in regions where opportunities are already limited. Furthermore, she believes that this would favor large digital platforms to the detriment of SMEs.
A law to fight against fraud
The bill, put forward by MP Thomas Cazenave, mainly aims to fight against public aid fraud. These frauds, particularly those linked to energy renovation and ecological equipment, have reached an “industrial level” according to Magali Caillat, deputy director of the fight against financial crime at the DNPJ. Devices for connected room-by-room heating control have in particular been affected by suspicions of fraud.
-The FVD recalls that “International experience, particularly in Germany, shows that the global ban on cold calling does not reduce abusive practices. » She is also concerned about possible restrictions on door-to-door canvassing, particularly for energy renovation work.
