Thursday, February 19, 2009

Ban Telemarketing!

More than 3.3 million numbers were registered on the national Do-Not-Call List within a few days of it going live. So many people tried to access it, that it crashed only a few minutes after opening on its first day!

The CRTC projects that 60% of Canadians will eventually add their numbers to the list. I assume that many of the remainder are simply too busy or lazy to add their numbers. You know, like those who failed to exercise their democratic right to vote in our last election. All of this leads me to a not-so-radical solution, which is to ban telemarketing, or to make it opt-in only.

Let me repeat, 60% of Canadians are expected to add their numbers to the list. We allow a party to govern that only won 38% of the popular vote. Far more people are opposed to telemarketing than are in favour of the current government, so what's the problem? The mad dash to the Do-Not-Call list is a de facto referendum on the practice. Canadians have rarely been in such agreement about anything at any time.

Of course, I added my number, and was informed that it will take some time (I can't remember how long) for the number to be really added. Oddly, the number of unwanted calls INCREASED immediately. I have had more calls from telemarketers than before I added my number! WTF? If I were a conspiracy theorist, I'd have lots to say about that.

Personally, I hate telemarketing more than spam (the unsolicited email, not the dubious canned meat).

7 comments:

running42k said...

Problem is, call centers maybe the only jobs in Ontario soon.

zydeco fish said...

You could be right, but I hope that doesn't happen.

A said...

I hate telemarketers. They call me on my work number... while I'm working. It's very obnoxious.

tshsmom said...

I don't know how your Don't Call List works, but in the US charities(legitimate or otherwise) can still call you. Political and market-research telemarketing are exempt too.

Kate said...

I am enraged when I get calls on my pay-as-you-go cell phone. I got rid of my landline because I was getting so many telemarketer calls and more than a few of them were obviously scams.

Now, my school (employer) calls me with announcements and it drives me nuts! I haven't figured out if it's possible to opt out.

tweetey30 said...

Problem is that they still try and call you. A friend of ours has there number on the DO NOT CALL list and they get called all the time..

Anonymous said...

I know there have been some hiccups with the DNC list, but personally, I love it. I get one call a month now, from a charity I actually don't mind dealing with, and all the other crap calls are GONE! (I've probably just jinxed myself though).

I used to get 3 or 4 calls a day, every day, and since I'm at home, and I answer the phone, it was truly awful. I'm with you. Ban telemarketing. Seriously, how can they think that harrassing people on the phone could remotely work?