Cold Calls - A quick guide to preventing unwanted calls from direct marketing companies
Introduction
All telephone users can now register whether or not they want to receive ‘cold calls’ to their phone.
‘Cold calling’ is when a company calls you, without getting your permission, so they can try to sell you goods or services. This is sometimes called ‘direct marketing’.
It is easy and free of charge to make your preference known. You just need to contact your phone line provider - the company to which you pay line rental.
All providers have been contacting their customers with details on the arrangements for registering a preference, so watch out for further information on your monthly or two-monthly bills or on your service provider’s website.
In this guide, we:
- describe how you can make your preference known; and
- outline what you can do if you receive cold calls against your wishes.
How does the process work?
All phone numbers contained in public phone books or available through directory enquiries are held in a central record known as the ‘National Directory Database’ (NDD).
When you contact your phone provider to tell them you do not want to receive direct marketing calls, they will make sure that this is recorded in the NDD. It will do this promptly, but if there are a large number of similar requests it make take up to five working days.
Direct marketing companies can get a copy of the NDD to make sure that they do not call phone users who have said they do not want to be contacted. However, it can take up to 28 days after the information is recorded in the NDD for marketers to access the opt-out listing. This depends on how often they update their own listings.
Fixed-line users
If you have a fixed-line (landline) phone and you do not want direct marketing companies to call you, you should contact the company from which you rent the line.
If your telephone line is ex-directory you do not need to contact your phone company; your number will be automatically recorded as not wanting to receive direct marketing calls.
Mobile phone users
Most mobile phone numbers are not listed in the NDD and therefore it would not be possible for mobile users to register a preference.
However, the mobile phone companies have barred all direct marketing companies from making cold calls to mobile phone numbers.
If you want to allow direct marketers to contact you in this way, you can call your mobile service provider and ask that your number be made available to direct marketers.
What about unsolicited faxes?
Direct marketing companies are not allowed to send any residential customer a fax without getting their permission first.
Business users
Direct marketing companies can send unsolicited faxes to businesses. So if you are a business user with your fax number in the NDD (National Directory Database) and you do not want direct marketing companies to fax you, you should contact the company from which you rent the line. You should note that the NDD does not distinguish between phone numbers used for voice calls and fax machines as they can sometimes be the same.
The NDD does not include the full range of Direct Dial Inward (DDI) numbers that a business may use. These numbers usually just include the number of the main switchboard or the numbers that the business user chooses to have included in public directories. Direct marketing companies may choose to randomly dial DDI numbers, so their calls may be difficult to block.
What can you do if you receive marketing calls against your wishes?
Not all marketing calls fall into the category of ‘unsolicited calls’. A business may contact you for marketing purposes if you are or recently were a customer. It can do this even if your number is included in the opt-out listing, unless you tell them that you do not want them to phone you.
You might also receive a marketing call if you provide phone details to a company, for example by entering a competition, redeeming coupons or requesting a brochure. If you do not
want it to phone, say that when you give your details.
If you get an unwanted marketing call from a business that you have had no prior dealings with, or to which you have not provided contact details, tell the caller you do not want to be contacted by that company again.
If you get the call more than 28 days after your details have been recorded in the opt-out register of the NDD, or after you have told the company in question not to contact you again, you may wish to complain to the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner. This office can investigate and prosecute the company if necessary.
How can I contact the Data Protection Commissioner?
You can contact the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner in the following ways:
By phone: Lo Call 1890 252 231 (Monday to Thursay 9.15 am to to 5.30pm & Friday 9.15am to 5.15pm)
By fax: 057 86 84757
By email: info@dataprotection.ie
By post: Office of the Data Protection Commissioner
Canal House
Station Road
Portarlington
Co Laois
About ComReg
We are responsible for regulating the electronic communications
(telecommunications, radio communications and broadcasting transmission) and
postal sectors
How can I contact ComReg?
You can contact us:
By phone (LoCall): *1890 229 668 / 01 804 9668 (09.00am to 5.30pm)
*(Calls to 1890 numbers from landlines are charged at a local call rate, charges from mobile phones may vary depending on your operator)
By fax: 01 804 9680
By email: consumerline@comreg.ie
By post: ComReg Consumer Team
Irish Life Centre
Block DEF
Lower Abbey Street
Dublin 1
By phone (LoCall): 1890 229 668
By fax: 01 804 9717
By email: consumerline@comreg.ie
Our websites are: www.comreg.ie / www.askcomreg.ie / www.callcosts.ie
Contacting other Consumer Organisations
Click here for information regarding contacting other organisations
Legal disclaimer
We prepared this document from a variety of sources. While we took reasonable care to prepare it, we do not accept any responsibility for any loss or damage anyone may suffer by using any of this information.
