Telephone canvassing: is the pressure falling? – Telephone canvassing: can we get out of it?
1 What has changed?
Since March 1, telephone canvassing is now only authorized from Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. It is therefore prohibited at night, on Saturdays and Sundays, but also on public holidays. The same organization cannot, either, call the same number more than four times a month, if it calls for business purposes. And if a consumer explicitly refuses to be called back during a telephone conversation, the organization in question will have to wait 60 days before being able to contact him again. In case of non-compliance with these rules, it is possible to report it on the Signal Conso platform.
2 Insulation, insurance
Among the people who testified on the Telegram site, many indicate that they are generally approached for energy savings (insulation, solar panels, etc.) and insurance contracts. “For a while, canvassing indeed focused a lot on energy renovation, but today it is supposed to be prohibited and you are offered contracts of all kinds instead”, notes Olivier Gayraud, lawyer at the consumer association. CLCV (Consumption, housing, living environment).
3 “There is progress”
Since its entry into force on March 1, has the new rule been respected in terms of authorized canvassing times and days? “For the moment, there is progress”, answers this inhabitant of Indre-et-Loire who answered our call. “I am no longer bored on weekends and early in the morning,” says Alain, who lives in Puy-de-Dôme. “Since March 1, I have not received any canvassing,” rejoices Anne, living in Anzin (North).
4 “It’s Worse”
We have received only a small number of testimonials from people satisfied with the new measures. On the other hand, there are many who have not noticed any change. “It’s worse: ten phone calls in half an hour is too much,” even complains Marie, who lives in Allier. “No difference since March 1. They call several times in the space of 30 minutes despite the fact that we do not want to follow up on their request, ”laments, for his part, the Niçois Franck.
“It looks like it’s worse than before,” says Paul, domiciled in Folgoët (29). “On March 6, I received three calls for so-called energy savings, although I have been on Bloctel for several years
and that I refuse anonymous calls. I immediately block advertising numbers, but often they are wrong numbers and always with foreign accents”.
5 “Prohibit canvassing, source of irritation”
Faced with these abuses, should we go further in the legislation? In other words, should the government ban cold calling? “Yes”, answers Catherine, to Javené (35). “If the phenomenon continues, I plan to stop the fixed line of my telephone,” she adds. “As in Germany, we must prohibit any canvassing”, continues Simone, residing in Autun (Saône-et-Loire). “We must go much further and above all, sanction abuses, in order to respect the tranquility of citizens”, suggests Jean-Claude, from Bohars (29). “We must generalize Bloctel”, recommends, for her part, the Vannetaise Patricia.
6 “Avoid being taken by surprise”
In addition, Olivier Gayraud recalls the dangers of canvassing and warns: “It’s never a good idea to sign a contract by canvassing, quite simply because you haven’t thought about your needs. You didn’t compare and you were taken by surprise,” he explains. “In general,” he warns, “you can end the conversation very quickly by saying: Thank you, but that doesn’t interest me; good-bye then “.
* Free telephone canvassing opposition service launched in 2016, Bloctel allows anyone to refuse to be canvassed by a professional with whom they have no current contractual relationship.
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