The Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) yesterday urged the National Communications Commission (NCC) to put in place a set of restrictions that would allow phone users to opt out of being contacted by telemarketers.
The commission said that over the last year, 92 of the 182 complaints and disputes filed with it involved telecommunications. The CPC said it invited the NCC and representatives from telecom service providers to discuss ways for consumers to opt out of being contacted by telemarketers.
Commission section chief Wu Cheng-hsueh (吳政學) said that the immediate and private nature of telephone calls made to market or sell products and services can easily lead to consumers feeling harassed. Those who have declined to be contacted by telemarketers via text messaging or direct phone calls should be entered into a customer database that will automatically exclude them from being contacted for promotions, product information or other business offers.
Aside from feeling harassed by telemarketers, consumers’ rights may also be infringed if they have difficulty understanding the information presented to them in text messaging or phone calls, Wu said.
“Many consumers may not be fully aware of certain terms and conditions contained in offers made to them over the phone, so telemarketers should be required to send details of the offer in print form after contacting them by phone,” he said.
The commission also urged the NCC to draft official versions of standard form contracts for telecom service purchases that would include a clause allowing consumers to opt out of being contacted by telemarketers, as well as requiring telecom service providers to establish a database of customers who decline to be contacted.
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