Mobile Numbers, Telemarketers, And ‘Do Not Call’ Register
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June 19, 2011Change And Getting Welfare Working
June 19, 2011A hoax email stating that mobile phone numbers are about to to be released to telemarketing companies and that consumers will be charged for telemarketing calls made to them, has been circulating for some time, without a validating link.
A Timely Warning
One PWF reader has found the warning timely as it has caused many to check their ‘Do Not Call’ status and re-register this before the five year registration limit is up.
What Hoaxslayer Says
Hoaxslayer says the email info does not come from either the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) or the Do Not Call Register Operator. There have many enquiries about the message and its origin is currently being investigated by ACMA.
ACMA has published the following consumer alert warning about the hoax:
“The ACMA is aware of an email currently circulating providing misinformation about mobile numbers being made ‘public’ in the near future. It advises that as a consequence mobile users will be charged for calls made by telemarketing companies to their mobile service.
While the email refers to the Australian Do Not Call Register website, it appears to have originated in North America a number of years ago and has been intermittently circulating since that time. The reference to consumers being ‘charged’ arises from the different charging regime for mobile calls in the USA, where often charges are incurred by mobile phone users for calls they receive. This charging regime does not apply in Australia.
The Australian Do Not Call Register has strong mechanisms in place to protect the privacy of registrants. The numbers on the Do Not Call Register are never provided directly to telemarketers.
Consumers can list their Australian fixed line and mobile numbers on the Do Not Call Register, provided the numbers are used primarily for private or domestic purposes, on www.donotcall.gov.au. Consumers can also register by phoning 1300 792 958.
Under the Do Not Call Register Act 2006, telemarketers can check their calling lists against the Do Not Call Register. If a telemarketer calls a number on the Do Not Call Register, they may be in breach of the Act, and may face penalties.
The ACMA recommends recipients of the email delete it and not forward it on to other email users. A variation of this email was previously circulated during March/April 2009.”
I wasn’t aware of the 5 year ‘Do Not Call’ limit – were you?
4 Comments
I wasn’t aware of the 5 year limit. I still get calls from O/S call centres via VIOP. The ‘do not call’ doesn’t stop these nor can one report the number one has to extract the company name but they keep ranting on and won’t listen to your request for contact details as they are only following a `prescription`.
I wonder what others are finding Paul – I don’t fight it, I just hang up.
It actually did a few of us a favour. I looked up the register because the link was there, and found out about the 5 year period. Nobody I contacted knew that, couldn’t remember when they first registered, and all promptly re-registered. Some still do get the o/s calls so the system obviously isn’t perfect. I pay Telstra extra for caller ID, the words ‘private’ and ‘overseas’ are displayed, I just don’t answer.
Very helpful Gail, thanks. I had thought that because I also use both my landline and my mobile for my (very small) business, that I could not register – the prospect of being free of the unending marketing calls is wonderful! We get about 5 a day, always at the most inconvenient times (mealtimes etc).