Millions of households set to be fair game for telemarketers
28 January 2010** 18 June update: The Do Not Call Register has been amended, and the following changes have been enacted:
* the registration period for numbers has been extended from three to five years
* government bodies and emergency services will be able to register their numbers
* fax numbers can also be registered.
Register online at www.donotcall.gov.au
** 1 March 2010 update: The Senate Inquiry report into the Do Not Call Register Legislation Amendment Bill 2009 has been released. The report recommends the Bill be passed, but also suggests that the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy give consideration to ACCAN's recommendations about changes to the registration period, if suitable measures for updating the Do Not Call Register can be found. ACCAN will continue to pursue our goals of removing the registration period and exemptions before the first registrations begin to expire. Click here to view our media release on the report.**
When the Do Not Call Register was launched in May 2007, the demand was astonishing: over 1 million Australian phone numbers were registered within the first month. As the third anniversary of the Register looms, the latest figures show that over 4.1 million phone numbers are registered.
The Do Not Call Register (1300 792 958) has been a resounding success, with nearly a third of all Australian households asking to be protected from unwanted, intrusive telemarketing calls.
New rules propose expansion and customisation of the Register
Changes to the Do Not Call Register are currently being considered by a Senate committee. The main proposals mean that all Australian numbers can be registered, including fax numbers.
Another important addition is the concept of "registered consent". Essentially this will allow people to customise their registrations, so they may wish to opt in to telemarketing from certain industries.
It's time to address 2 problem areas: Renewals and Exemptions
ACCAN has proposed 2 more changes that would serve to enhance the function of the Do Not Call Register:
• Remove the renewal requirement
The renewal requirement makes Australia one of only two countries with outdated and bureaucratic registration schemes, the other being Canada which at least has a five 5 year registration period.
The process itself is straightforward – you can do it online, over the phone, or by post – but the problem will be notifying the owners of millions of numbers before their number is removed.
Not every listing on the register will be individually prompted when they need to renew; it depends how and when the phone number was registered. It will be a massive, and presumably expensive exercise for the Australian Communications and Media Authority, who will is responsible for all aspects of the register.
It will also be a huge headache for the 1 million phone number owners who need to renew in May.
• Abolish special “public interest” exemptions
Even if you are on the Do Not Call Register, you can still be contacted by some exempt “public interest” entities, namely charities, educational or religious organisations, registered political parties and independent members of parliament, electoral candidates and government bodies.
The new "registered consent" proposal will make these exemptions obsolete. Australians should be able to freely nominate who they DO want to be contacted by - political parties, charities, etc - which the new "registered consent" classifications will allow.
What can you do?
ACCAN has made a submission to the Senate Committee, urging amendments to the Bill that will greatly improve the Do Not Call Register by:
• Removing the unnecessary burden of 3 year renewal, and make sure the 4.1million phone numbers remain indefinitely protected from telemarketers; and
• Removing exemptions so consumers can maximise the customisation elements of registration that will exist when ACMA determines classes of industry
ACCAN encourages you to email Minister Stephen Conroy and Opposition Spokesman Tony Smith in support of these amendments.
And most importantly of all – you can take action by joining the Do Not Call Register yourself.
ACCAN welcomes feedback on our policies and campaigns: campaigns(at)accan.org.au
Useful Links
Join the Do Not Call Register online or by calling 1300 792 958
Information for the public from the Australian Communications and Media Authority
Galexia Research Paper: Emerging Best Practice in Do Not Call Registers
Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts Inquiry into the Do Not Call Register Legislation Amendment Bill 2009
Report breaches of the Do Not Call Register to the ACMA
ACCAN's submission to the Senate is available on the left hand side of the page. Our supplementary submission to the Senate is here.
FOLLOW ACCAN ON TWITTER: http://twitter.com/ACCAN_AU