TRAI cracks whip on telemarketers

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Wednesday lashed out at the telemarketers by laying out a number of new rules to make the marketing calls less tedious for consumers.

Unlike the previous Regulations which provided only for a Do Not Call Registry, the Regulations issued on Thursday provide a wider choice to the customer by providing ‘Fully Blocked’ or ‘Partially Blocked’ categories to choose from.

Customer registration to the Do Not Call registry will be effective within seven days of registration unlike in the past when it used to be 45 days. The customer can register by ringing up 1909 or sending SMS to 1909.

Under the new rules, any call that comes from any number beginning with ’70’ will be a commercial call and the customer has the choice of receiving or not receiving the call.

The regulations also mandate that no commercial communication, even for unregistered customers, shall be sent between 9.00 PM to 9.00 AM, so as not to disturb the customers at night.

The procedure for registration of telemarketers with TRAI has also been simplified.

Hefty fines, which go up to Rs 2.5 lakh, have been laid out in case the telemarketers refuse to adhere to the new set of rules.

In addition to being liable for the fines in case of violations, the telemarketer will be blacklisted on commission of the sixth offence. The telecom resources of the blacklisted telemarketer will be disconnected by all the service providers and will not be restored for a period of two years.

The regulations also provide for an aggrieved customer to lodge complaint with his service provider who is required to take appropriate action and inform the customer of the action taken within seven days.

The new regulations issued on Wednesday, ?The Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2010?, cover both Commercial calls as well as SMSs. It will be effective from January 1, 2011.