New rules by TRAI to do away with telemarketing calls

Many mobile and landline users have been plagued with unwanted calls and SMSs from telemarketers over a considerable period of time. Last year, the TRAI, or the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India announced new rules. According to the new ruling, those registered with the National Customer Preference Registry could ward off unwanted communication with telemarketers from the 27th of September, 2011.

TRAI to stop unwanted calls and SMS from telemarketers

According to a report, TRAI announced that those telemarketers who do not follow these rules would face a fine of Rs. 75,000 for the first offence. The fine goes up to Rs. 2.5 lakh for the sixth offence and if they continue defying it, they would be blacklisted for two years. TRAI states, "The Regulations prescribe a ways for protection of consumers from Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC). The main objective is to ensure that consumers do not get commercial communications of promotional nature unless they have specifically opted for receiving them"

A report states that to stop receiving these calls or SMSes, one can dial 1909 or SMS 1909. If a person continues to receive these calls or SMSes, they can contact their phone company and provide the number, date, time and get an explanation for the unwanted call they received. Once registered, these telemarketing calls will stop within seven days. For more information log on to www.nccptrai.gov.in, or click this link here.