Do Not Call list has loopholes

Putting your name on a Do Not Call list doesn't mean you'll never hear from a telemarketer again.

In fact, there are many groups and organizations that can still ring you up to ask for money or sell you things, even though your name and number are on the list.

The news may be disheartening to more than half of people living in the province. The latest Angus Reid poll shows 52 per cent of Manitobans say being interrupted at home by a telemarketer tops their list of things that anger them the most.

Starting in September, the National Do Not Call list takes effect. It will be operated by Bell Canada under contract to the federal government.

It will, no doubt, be a popular service -- but don't be surprised if after you've signed up, the phone still rings while you're eating dinner or while you're in the shower.

That's the warning from Nancy Webster Cole, senior manager of telemarketing regulation with the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission.

"If you've purchased an item from a company, they can call you up to 18 months after that purchase and offer you different products and services," Webster Cole told CTV Consumerwatch reporter Eleanor Coopsammy.

There are also many groups and organizations that will be exempt from the Do Not Call Service:

• Calls made by or on behalf of a charity
• Calls from political parties, or nomination candidates
• Calls from newspapers trying to sell you subscriptions
• Calls from polling companies

But those who do sign up at least should see a decrease in the number of calls they get.

"Consumers will be able to protect their privacy and register their number on the list," said Webster Cole. "The primary rule is don't call anyone who is registered on the list."

Multiple numbers can also be registered, including fax machines and cell phone numbers.

"We've received some complaints about telemarketing to cell phones. I don't know if it's a big problem. But, if you don't want to receive a call on your cell you can register that number on the do not call list."

And if you're getting calls from telemarketers based in the United States, the only way to get them to stop is to request to have your number removed from the company's list at the time of the call -- because they are, of course, exempt from Canadian law.

Once you register on the Canadian do-not-call list, it can take about 31 one days until the calls start to taper off.

While you wait to sign up when the service begins this fall, you can register with the Canadian Marketing Association. It has its own Do Not Contact service. Businesses which are members of the CMA are directed not to contact anyone on the list. The service will continue for three years, even after the national service comes into effect.

You can also write the CMA, or send a fax:

• P.O. 706
• 1-Concorde Gate, Suite 607
• Don Mills, Ontario
• M3C 3N6
• Tel: [phone]
• Fax: [phone] 

The national registry will also only be good for three years, requiring you sign up again once your registration expires.

With a report from CTV Consumerwatch reporter Eleanor Coopsammy.