Monday, March 12, 2007
Who will answer the DNCL?
The National Post began a series of articles this past weekend, looking at how "Canada's tangled subsidies and trade restrictions are stunting economic growth and cheating consumers."Saturday's Post also had an article bemoaning the delays in implementing the national do-not-call list (DNCL).
Efforts to set up a long promised registry where consumers can declare their phone numbers off-limits to telemarketers have been delayed, in part by controversy over how to pay for it.The do-not-call registry is an example of paternalistic government intervention. The legislation does nothing to stop the bad eggs from being bad, but the responsible telemarketers are at risk of being saddled with even higher costs, chasing more jobs off-shore where enforcement will be that much tougher.
Is the DNCL becoming another gun registry? Are we going to harm carrier call centre revenues and domestic call centre jobs?
Who will track the unintended consequences of what seemed to be well intentioned consumer-friendly legislation?
Technorati Tags:
National Post, unintended consequences, DNCL
Posted by Mark Goldberg @ 3/12/2007 05:25:00 AM 
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Mark, I don't agree that the DNCL would do nothing to stop the bad eggs from being bad. Because if there's a DNCL and I'm on it, I won't hesitate to give any telemarketer who calls an earful, instead of being polite as I currently am.
Your post seems to take the viewpoint that any economic activity should not be interfered with. Should manufacturers of crack cocaine be left alone too?
Your post seems to take the viewpoint that any economic activity should not be interfered with. Should manufacturers of crack cocaine be left alone too?
Posted by 
Rohan Jayasekera : 1:07 PM, March 12, 2007
Rohan Jayasekera : 1:07 PM, March 12, 2007
I don't think making lawful calls qualifies as illegal activity. Unless, of course, the telemarketer is selling your crack.
You can already ask to be put on any telemarketers Do Not Call list, or ask the Canadian Marketing Association to add you to their Do Not Call, Do Not Mail, Do Not Fax lists or all of the above.
Why do we need to wait for a delayed centralized list that no one can figure out how to pay for?
By the way, would you distinguish between crack and other forms of cocaine? :-)
You can already ask to be put on any telemarketers Do Not Call list, or ask the Canadian Marketing Association to add you to their Do Not Call, Do Not Mail, Do Not Fax lists or all of the above.
Why do we need to wait for a delayed centralized list that no one can figure out how to pay for?
By the way, would you distinguish between crack and other forms of cocaine? :-)
Posted by Mark Goldberg : 1:16 PM, March 12, 2007
Mark Goldberg : 1:16 PM, March 12, 2007
Mark, activity doesn't have to be illegal to be problematic. I do get on the existing Do Not Call lists, but there are tons of telemarketers out there who aren't members of the CMA, and new ones keep springing up. (And one I do know about sometimes starts calling me again; maybe they left their list in their other suit.) Only a centralized DNCL will allow me to know that any telemarketing call I receive is a deliberate act of minor harassment, and not merely an unintentional one by someone who is legitimately unaware that I don't want these calls. Only then will I be able to deal with telemarketing calls quickly. And there will be a lot fewer of them too.
I'd be quite happy to pay for a national DNCL with an ever-so-slight increase in my taxes.
I'd be quite happy to pay for a national DNCL with an ever-so-slight increase in my taxes.
Posted by Rohan Jayasekera : 12:49 PM, March 13, 2007
Rohan Jayasekera : 12:49 PM, March 13, 2007
Fair point, Rohan. I suspect that some of the calls are going to be small local merchants who don't have the infrastructure to access the central database.
Is that a good thing? It may be an unfotunate consequence of too many annoyance calls from lawn services and duct cleaners and not enough from neighbourhood kids selling tickets to their school show.
Both are telemarketing.
Is that a good thing? It may be an unfotunate consequence of too many annoyance calls from lawn services and duct cleaners and not enough from neighbourhood kids selling tickets to their school show.
Both are telemarketing.
Posted by Mark Goldberg : 1:10 PM, March 13, 2007
Mark Goldberg : 1:10 PM, March 13, 2007
Mark, you're quite right that I wouldn't mind receiving the odd call "from neighbourhood kids selling tickets to their school show". But I can only remember receiving one such call — ever. Admittedly I live in an, um, "edgy" neighbourhood where there aren't many kids, so my experience may well be atypical.
Still, I doubt that DNCL-type restrictions would even occur to neigbourhood kids who were going to call around the neighbourhood.
Still, I doubt that DNCL-type restrictions would even occur to neigbourhood kids who were going to call around the neighbourhood.
Posted by Rohan Jayasekera : 5:28 PM, March 14, 2007
Rohan Jayasekera : 5:28 PM, March 14, 2007
Personally, I have never received a call from a neighbourhood kid looking for money. It is always big corporations looking for my Money! Why should I have to be interupted during dinner with my family or have my young children woken up by telemarketers calling me at 9pm? I have no respect for telemarketing of any kind and I don't care what the implementation of a DNCL will do to the economy! I will be the first to put my name on that list. I don't need or want anyone chasing me down in the privacy of my home for money! I am a responsible tax paying citizen and I will choose where I donate my money.
Posted by 
: 3:35 AM, March 17, 2007
: 3:35 AM, March 17, 2007
I am involved in telemarketing on daily basis.I represent a reputable company with an excellent product and follow up service. I contribute significantly to Canadian economy by doing such a hard work as to call people who are getting so spoiled.To those people who disrespect telemarketers I have one thing to say.Nothing will move unless something is sold.Do you get it?It is possible that in the near future your own parents or relatives will need a permission to call you because you feel so annoyed. You are loosing social and communication ability to coexist with others.Why do I spend my time to even talk about it?Spoiled generation.
Posted by : 9:36 PM, July 06, 2008
: 9:36 PM, July 06, 2008
I would guess that most people complaining about getting calls or those who create those list happily sit in a government office and receive their check every week and do not have to earn their living the hard way.
Otherwise, they would recognize that most product that they buy everyday, where created by entrepreneur that had to have a way to make those product know to the people. We can not all afford to pay for TV advertising.
However those are the same people that we hear all the time, say how lucky we are to be our own boss.
Otherwise, they would recognize that most product that they buy everyday, where created by entrepreneur that had to have a way to make those product know to the people. We can not all afford to pay for TV advertising.
However those are the same people that we hear all the time, say how lucky we are to be our own boss.
Posted by : 9:07 PM, September 20, 2008
: 9:07 PM, September 20, 2008
I'll post anonymously, since I work for a large corporation that uses legitimate calling practices to speak with existing customers, and no one else.
Far too many times, I am cursed at and damned to hell, simply due to the scam-like behaviour of unscrupulous telemarketers who don't give a darn about someone's privacy or peace and tranquility at home. There are little differences between the sales volumes of unsolicited calls and unsolicited hard mail. Both of those techniques use the scatter-gun approach and target hundreds of thousands to end up with a small percent who purchase the product.
I'm in favour of such a list (the DNCL) simply because it further legitimizes my work when I contact an existing customer. They will know that my call is intended for them and deals with our existing business relationship - not an annoying cold call to hustle some product to them.
Personally, I can't wait to register my own home and cell numbers.
Far too many times, I am cursed at and damned to hell, simply due to the scam-like behaviour of unscrupulous telemarketers who don't give a darn about someone's privacy or peace and tranquility at home. There are little differences between the sales volumes of unsolicited calls and unsolicited hard mail. Both of those techniques use the scatter-gun approach and target hundreds of thousands to end up with a small percent who purchase the product.
I'm in favour of such a list (the DNCL) simply because it further legitimizes my work when I contact an existing customer. They will know that my call is intended for them and deals with our existing business relationship - not an annoying cold call to hustle some product to them.
Personally, I can't wait to register my own home and cell numbers.
Posted by : 8:49 AM, September 30, 2008
: 8:49 AM, September 30, 2008
I don't sit at a government desk waiting for my weekly paycheck but I do work hard for my earnings, I pay my taxes and am a law abiding citizen. Getting a phone call during dinner while having some quality time with my family not only annoys me but assures the caller they will either get hung up on or an earful from me. I don't need to be interupted by a "cruise ship horn" telling me I have won this or that vacation package ... this kind of telemarketing is what is ruining it for legitimate companies trying to sell their wares and make a living. Pick a better time or leave a message during the day. If the recipient is interested they will get back to you.
Posted by : 2:23 PM, September 30, 2008
: 2:23 PM, September 30, 2008
Hanging up just makes them more profitable. If you want to mess with the telemarketing world, start talking to them. Ask them questions and have them explain their product. Take as much time as you possibly can and then tell them you would never buy from a telemarketer (feel free to yell and be really smug). Not only do you slow down the entire company, you can take satisfaction in knowing you kept that telemarketer from 2 or 3 more calls and a potential commission. They intrude into my house to make money, so I aim for their paycheck. I have no respect for anyone who chooses harassment and intimidation as a viable way to make a living. If you don't like my opinion, feel free not to call me.
BTW 1. Telemarketers and 'research firms' use the DNCL to find otherwise unlisted numbers.
2. I enjoyed the irony of 'Anonymous - September 20', saying only telemarketers work hard, while everyone else is just sitting at a desk.
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BTW 1. Telemarketers and 'research firms' use the DNCL to find otherwise unlisted numbers.
2. I enjoyed the irony of 'Anonymous - September 20', saying only telemarketers work hard, while everyone else is just sitting at a desk.
Posted by : 3:03 PM, December 10, 2008
: 3:03 PM, December 10, 2008 << Home
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