Discussions

Just a reminder that those of us who don't wish to be bothered by  
unsolicited telemarketers can register for the national do-not-call list  
as of Tuesday.  
 
Below is a copy of an article which ran in the National Post on July  
30th explaining how we can go about doing so:  
 
"OTTAWA - Canadians will be able to avoid unsolicited telemarketer  
calls by registering with the national do-not-call list in exactly two  
months, the federal telecommunications regulator confirmed Wednesday.  
 
Consumers will be able to register for the list either by phone or  
online starting Sept. 30. The Canadian Radio-television and  
Telecommunications Commission warned calls will not stop immediately  
upon registration, as telemarketers have 31 days to update their calling  
lists.  
 
Exceptions to the list include calls from charities, political parties,  
polling companies, newspapers selling subscriptions, and organizations  
with which the consumer has an existing business relationship.  
 
Those registered with the list will also be able to file a complaint  
with a yet-to-be-named third-party investigator if they are still  
receiving calls from an unexempt organization after the 31-day grace  
period.  
 
Telemarketers found in violation of the list could face fines of up to  
$1,500 for individuals and up to $15,000 for corporations.  
 
The CRTC first broached the subject of a national do not call list in  
2004 to complement the current regulations requiring telemarketers to  
keep individual, company-specific lists.  
 
The regulator set out rules for creation and operation of the list in  
July 2007 and awarded Bell Canada a five-year contract to operate the  
list later that year.  
 
_*Canadians will be able to add their land line, cell or fax numbers on  
the national do-not-call list online at www.LNNTE-DNCL.gc.ca or by  
calling 1-866-580-DNCL (3625). For TTY service only (for the hearing  
impaired), the toll-free number will be 1-888-DNCL-TTY (1-888-362-5889).*_  
 
The telemarketing industry has been critical of the list, specifically  
the online registration. The concern is that hackers will be able to  
upload entire phone books to the list."