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Use of the
telephone line for solicitation by businesses and charities is very common
today. Many Canadians consider telemarketing calls to be an annoyance
and an invasion of privacy. Call centres often use automatic or predictive
dialers to make voice or fax calls to potential customers. Sometimes (in
the case of voice solicitation) there are more calls made than telemarketing
representatives available to take them. This may result in abandoned calls
– to us sounding like ‘dead air’ or a ‘hang up’.
There are
rules for telemarketers to follow, as outlined in the Privacy Issues section
in the front of your Quadro telephone directory. For complete details
on the CRTC regulations for telemarketing and what you can do, please
visit the CRTC website. The CRTC
is currently seeking input on a National
Do Not Call List until May 10, 2006. Anyone interested in commenting
without participating in the full public process, may do so in writing
via mail, fax, web-form,
or by calling toll-free 1-866-481-3838.
Steps
You Can Take to Reduce Telemarketing:
- If you’re
talking directly with a telemarketer, or get a valid call back number
through your ‘call display’ option or *69, ask to be placed
on their ‘do not call’ lists. For unsolicited faxes, call
their contact number and ask to be removed from their fax lists. As
of October 1st, 2004 the telemarketer must give you a unique registration
number which you should write down as proof that your ‘do not call’
request was made.
- Sometimes
the number on your display or retrieved using *69 is not a valid number.
It may be a display number for a rebiller or voIP service which doesn’t
show the actual originating number. If you are unable to contact the
telemarketing company or if you continue to receive telephone calls/faxes,
contact your telephone company. If the telemarketing calls are
originating from a Quadro exchange, we will gladly contact them to ask
you be removed from their calling list. If they fail to comply, we have
the right to disconnect their lines within two business days. Telemarketing
calls originate from anywhere across North America, and unfortunately,
there is no system in place to determine the provider of their telephone
service. This makes it virtually impossible for Quadro to pursue the
matter any further in most cases. Quadro files semi-annual reports with
the CRTC on ‘Complaints Associated with Telemarketing Activities’,
and would be happy to add your complaint to the list.
- You can
register to have your telephone number(s) removed from marketing lists
by mailing your request to the Canadian Marketing Association (CMA),
P.O. Box 706, Don Mills, Ontario M3C 2T6, or faxing it to (416) 441-4062
or by completing the registration form at www.the-cma.org.
Not all telemarketers are members of the CMA so this will not eliminate
all unsolicited telemarketing calls. Make sure you indicate your first
and last names as well as your complete address and all telephone numbers,
including any Distinctive Ring numbers. This free service is valid
for three years and applies to telemarketing calls received by mail,
telephone and fax.
- Quadro
sells the Vtech 2.4 GHz TeleZapper cordless phone for $60. The system
actually disconnects most computer-generated calls and helps reduce
these types of calls over time. The phone emits a special tone that
tells the telemarketer's computer your number has been permanently disconnected.
- Write
your local Member of Parliament to express your concerns and views on
current telemarketing regulations and the changes you want to see implemented.
Telemarketing
Fraud
"If
it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is!"
Charities
and legitimate companies use the telephone to request donations or promote
the sale of products. It is an excellent marketing tool for reaching existing
and potential customers and supporters. Unfortunately it is also
an attractively anonymous way for criminals to reach their victims.
- DON'T
believe everyone calling is trustworthy.
- DON'T
give your personal or financial information to anyone over the phone.
- DON'T
be fooled by special high value prizes or gifts with a small purchase.
- DON'T
be afraid to say 'no' and hang up the phone.
- DON'T
allow yourself to be swept up in a 'limited time offer' with unreasonable
time restrictions.
- DO your
research to verify who you are talking to. Ask for the caller's name
and tell them you will call them back.
- DO contact
Project Phonebusters if you are contacted by someone who promises you
great prizes, but you are required to send money in advance for shipping,
handling, taxes, etc.
- DO contact
Project Phonebusters if you are contacted by someone who says that you
have won a prize, but you have to purchase a product to qualify.
Project Phonebusters
is a National Task Force established by the RCMP to protect Canadians
from Telephone Fraud and work to investigate and end telemarketing scams.
For more
information about Phonebusters please visit their website at www.phonebusters.com.
They have an excellent in-depth website with articles, tips and information
on telefraud and identity theft and how to recognize, report and stop
it.
If you feel
you have been targeted as a victim of telefraud call Phonebusters
toll free at 1-888-654-9426.
Internet
Fraud
Quadro reminds
its customers to exercise caution
when downloading “adult” content, games, music or videos
from entertainment sites on the Internet. Please visit our INTERNET
ALERTS page for tips and suggestions on protecting yourself
on the Internet.
Online
Shopping Tips
Online shopping is becoming increasingly more popular and convenient,
but before you start loading your virtual cart there are a few precautions
you should take.
- Make sure
you are purchasing merchandise from a reputable source.
- Research
the individual or company to ensure they are legitimate.
- Try
to obtain a physical address rather than merely a post office box
and a phone number. Call the seller to see if the number is correct
and working.
- Email
the company to ensure their email address is active.
- Be
wary of sellers who use free email services where a credit card
wasn't required to open the account.
- If
a vendor will not provide you with this type of information,
consider not doing business with them.
- Check
with the Better Business Bureau from the seller's area.
- Check
out other websites regarding this person/company.
- Don't
judge a person/company by their website.
- Be cautious
when responding to special offers (especially through unsolicited email).
- Be cautious
when dealing with persons/companies from outside North America.
- Know what
you are buying – read product description and fine print for indications
of off-brand or less-than-perfect condition items.
- Inquire
about returns and warranties.
- Consider
shipping and handling costs to ensure they are within your budget.
- Make sure
the transaction is secure when you electronically send your credit card
number. The safest way to purchase items via the Internet is by credit
card because you can often dispute the charges if something is wrong,
or consider utilizing an escrow or alternate payment service.
- Maintain
records of all online transactions.
- Check
your banking and credit card statements carefully each month and notify
the bank immediately if you have any unauthorized charges. Even
a very small amount can be an indication that someone has accessed your
information.
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