Do not call list - United Future wants legislation

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Posted Wed 16 July 2008 @ 4:54 a.m. by Ernie Newman

As the election approaches and parties look around for differentiating issues, United Future has called for outbound telemarketing to be legislated through a national "do not call" list. This is despite the voluntary list that has been run for several years now by the Marketing Association.

While there is no doubt telemarketers can sometimes be persistent and annoying, the issue in New Zealand has reached nothing like the scale of countries such as the USA where some consumers had reported receiving up to a dozen calls a night.

What do you think? Is the Marketing Association's voluntary scheme working? Or are the real miscreants just thumbing their noses? And if there is a problem where does it sit on the scale - a minor irritant, or a serious issue that deserves the heavy treatment of a legal remedy? Tell us.

Categories: International | Lifestyle | Technology

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12 comments

• Keith Norris, Director of Public Affairs, NZ Marke says:

  We believe that there is a need for a national ‘Do Not Call’ register, but we are opposed to a heavy-handed Government-run system. The Marketing Association is passionate about the value of responsible self-regulation and we therefore feel that if a national service is introduced, it should be contracted to an outside organisation, like TUANZ or the Marketing Association.
  
  Government-run services tend to be expensive, inflexible and unable to quickly adapt to market forces. We do not believe that the taxpayer should be burdened with the cost of yet another bureaucratic process.
  
  In on-air interviews with Leighton Smith, Newstalk ZB and Marcus Lush, RadioLIVE, I pointed out that many telemarketing calls are now originating from off-shore so legislation will be no more effective than the current system in controlling these calls. Click this link to hear the RadioLIVE interview :
  http://www.radiolive.co.nz/Audio/AudioPlayer/tabid/183/Default.aspx?articleID=7923
  

  Added: 17 July 2008, 2:52 p.m. Flag as Spam  |  Flag as Offensive

• Lesta G says:

  @Keith - there is a difference between running such a compulsory system and enforcing infringments compared to the voluntary system you currently run. An independant entity would help to ensure no perception of bias.
  I agree it will just end up being off-shored, but at the end of the day they are usually trying to sell a product or service in NZ and I am sure legislation could cover that.
  
  I have been getting more calls at home and bluntly I am getting sick of them. Rather than be on the MA list, have my own list , which is a black list of companies I will never buy from, ever, due to them ringing me unannounced. One national ISP has, just recently,easily managed to reach that list - not just by ringing , but by their aggresive marketing and additionally ringing me back 3 days later to market again....
  
  Bluntly what we need is not a National opt-out but a National opt-in, just like the UCE act.
  
  
  
  
  
  

  Added: 18 July 2008, 11:33 a.m. Flag as Spam  |  Flag as Offensive

• realist says:

  Ladies and gents, welcome to Nanny State. Of course we should establish a government Ministry for the Protection of Innocent Citizens From Nasty Marketers. That's the only way you and I can get any peace at all. I've never biothered to get on the Marketing Association list but I feel sure its no good. More public servants, I say.

  Added: 18 July 2008, 1:16 p.m. Flag as Spam  |  Flag as Offensive

• Johnno says:

  Get real, politicians - unsolicited calls are a small irritant, not a scourge on society. The term "flick off" is very effective even with the most persistent of them and has the advantage of cutting across language barriers.

  Added: 18 July 2008, 1:19 p.m. Flag as Spam  |  Flag as Offensive

• paulw says:

  I in favor of such a list. I get real sick of getting fone calls from telemarket type right on dinner time and during the evening. Normal get two a week some times more. Basically now ignore numbers starting with 9xx xxxx, Caller ID supressed and 000 .

  Added: 18 July 2008, 1:45 p.m. Flag as Spam  |  Flag as Offensive

• Ernie Newman, TUANZ says:

  Lesta G, and paulw - as a matter of interest, have you registered yourselves on the Marketing Association list? If so, has it not worked for you?

  Added: 18 July 2008, 1:56 p.m. Flag as Spam  |  Flag as Offensive

• Its your choice... says:

  Why would you need any register in the first place? I organised with Telecom a home phone line that does not have my number displayed publicly - anywhere. I also have Caller ID. On the odd occasion that someone does get hold of my number and is rude enough to call during dinner, if I don't know the number - I simply don't answer. If it is someone I know, they'll then call my mobile. Is it that simple, or am I missing something?

  Added: 18 July 2008, 2:44 p.m. Flag as Spam  |  Flag as Offensive

• Just thinking says says:

  There is a register already in place. Perhaps there could be a little bit more publicity around how to get onto the marketing association list. Responsible self regulation is appropriate. Why should we need political intervention for everything. There are more important issues for our politicians to be concerned about. Get on the list, or take your phone off the hook if you don't want to be interrupted.

  Added: 18 July 2008, 3:30 p.m. Flag as Spam  |  Flag as Offensive

• Unlisted says:

  Re Keiths comment about telemarketing calls originating from overseas being difficult to legislate against that may be but wouldn't the sanctions, fines or penalties be most effective against the advertiser of the goods and services as well? It would then be up to them to ensure they have appropriate arrangements in place with the telemarketers to conform to NZ legislation.

  Added: 18 July 2008, 5:08 p.m. Flag as Spam  |  Flag as Offensive

• fizzer says:

  I think its very easy to say that legislation would sort out all problems.. This would be kinda similar to how the law against smacking supposedly prevent all child abusers!
  Telemarketing is a very important function to our economy. They let us know of goods and deals that we perhaps wouldnt know otherwise. Now, some would argue that these deals/services are one which they do not need which is fair.
  Nevertheless, these are hardworking people doing a thankless (and most times abusive) job. These are not your people who are sitting at home on the dole. They are out there trying to make a living.
  I feel that there should be legislation for timings rather than the whole telemarketing as a whole.
  For eg. No contacts to be made after 6pm and before 9am. No contacts on a weekend. This would make it a lot clearer and easier to manage than checking whether someone is on a list or isnt.

  Added: 1 August 2008, 10:59 a.m. Flag as Spam  |  Flag as Offensive

• Bill says:

  I AM on the Marketing Assoc not very effective do not call list(have been for quite a while). I an also on the dontcall.co.nz list. I have just had a call from Morgan Research, These cretians don't even leave you in peace on a Sunday. The ones that are more offensive are those rambling tyraids coming from some company who only wants to be your friend and get you the tax refund of a life time. I am afraid that these days I am much less than tolerant with these ding dongs that persist in ringing me.

  Added: 15 November 2009, 3:04 p.m. Flag as Spam  |  Flag as Offensive

• TimJ says:

  I also got on to the Marketing Assoc. list and then I got *more* calls!! Now I just say 'hang on a minute..' and put the phone down off-hook until they are gone. IMO these callers are absolute vermin.

  Added: 17 November 2009, 3:39 p.m. Flag as Spam  |  Flag as Offensive

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