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Privacy and Security
Proactive Disclosure

Key facts for regular telemarketers

The National Do Not Call List (DNCL) is designed to reduce the number of unwanted telemarketing calls and faxes Canadian consumers receive. The National DNCL is a key part of the CRTC's Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules.

There are two types of telemarketers. Regular telemarketers are those who make calls or send faxes to sell or promote a product or service, or to request donations. Exempt telemarketers include registered charities, newspapers, political parties and companies that have an existing commercial relationship with consumers, as well as organizations that conduct market research, polls and surveys.

1. Am I a regular telemarketer?

• If you make calls or send faxes to sell or promote a product or service, or to request donations, then you are a telemarketer.
• If you hire a third-party agency to make telemarketing calls or send faxes on your behalf, both you and the agency must follow the Unsolicited Telemarketing Rules.
• Calls made for the purpose of market research, polls or surveys are not considered telemarketing calls.

2. Registration and subscription

• You must register with the National DNCL if you are a telemarketer.
• Register online at www.LNNTE-DNCL.gc.ca. There is no charge for registration.
• You must purchase a subscription for the area codes you intend to call. Fees will be based on the subscription model you choose.
• You must download the numbers from the National DNCL and delete them from your calling lists. The version of the National DNCL that you are using must not be older than 31 days.
• If you are only making telemarketing calls or sending faxes that are exempt from the National DNCL, you do not have to purchase a subscription to, or download, the National DNCL.
• For more information, see Part II of the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules.

3. Other responsibilities

• You are responsible for making sure your calling lists are current, and that you do not call the home phone, cellular or fax numbers that are on the National DNCL.
• You must maintain your own do not call list. If a consumer asks not to be contacted, you must add their name and number to your do not call list within 31 days.
• You must comply with the Telemarketing Rules at all times. For example, you can only make calls and send faxes at certain times of the day, and you must identify yourself at the beginning of every call.
• You must also comply with the Automatic Dialing and Announcing Device Rules, which are devices that dial telephone numbers automatically and deliver a pre-recorded message.

4. Complaints and enforcement

• Canadians can make a complaint through the National DNCL website (www.LNNTE-DNCL.gc.ca) or by calling the toll-free numbers 1-866-580-DNCL (1-866-580-3625) or 1-888-DNCL-TTY (1-888-362-5889).
• The CRTC will investigate complaints and can penalize telemarketers found to be in violation of the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules, which include the Telemarketing Rules, National DNCL Rules and Automatic Dialing and Announcing Device Rules.
• The CRTC can levy penalties of up to $1,500 for an individual and up to $15,000 for a corporation, for each violation.