5 Phrases to Silence Telemarketers Now
- Millions of french citizens are experiencing a growing wave of unsolicited and aggressive telephone canvassing, despite recent regulations aimed at curbing the practice.
- Telephone canvassing has become a major source of frustration for French citizens, with millions reporting feeling harassed by unsolicited calls.
- this reluctance to answer stems from the aggressive tactics employed by some canvassers, who often attempt to prolong conversations and make it arduous for individuals to politely end...
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France Battles a Surge in Unwanted phone Calls: New Rules, Limited Impact
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Millions of french citizens are experiencing a growing wave of unsolicited and aggressive telephone canvassing, despite recent regulations aimed at curbing the practice. A majority now avoid answering unknown numbers, highlighting the frustration and ineffectiveness of current measures.
The Scale of the Problem
Telephone canvassing has become a major source of frustration for French citizens, with millions reporting feeling harassed by unsolicited calls. The practice has become so pervasive that more than 6 out of 10 French people no longer answer the phone, according to a January 2024 report in Le Monde.
this reluctance to answer stems from the aggressive tactics employed by some canvassers, who often attempt to prolong conversations and make it arduous for individuals to politely end the call. The issue isn’t simply the frequency of calls, but the intrusive and often manipulative nature of the interactions.
New Regulations and Their Limitations
In an attempt to address the problem, new regulations governing telephone canvassing were introduced in March 2023. Thes rules restrict calls to Monday through friday, between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM, and again from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays are designated as protected times, free from canvassing calls.Moreover, numbers used for canvassing are now required to begin with specific codes, intended to help consumers identify them.
However, the effectiveness of these regulations has been called into question. Despite the directive, many French citizens continue to receive unwanted calls, often outside of the permitted hours.The French government’s official service website details the regulations, but also acknowledges the ongoing challenges in enforcement.
A Simple Countermeasure: Asking the Source
Faced with the continued influx of unwanted calls, a practical tip has emerged: directly ask the caller, “How did you get my phone number?” This question can frequently enough disrupt the canvasser’s script and force them to reveal their sourcing methods, possibly exposing illegal data collection practices.
Marre des appels de prospection ? 📞 Voici une astuce simple : demandez à l’opérateur comment il a eu votre numéro. Cela peut le déstabiliser et vous donner des informations sur l’origine de l’appel. 🧐 #prospection #télémarketing #harcèlementtéléphonique https://t.co/q9q9q9q9q9
– 60 Millions de Consommateurs (@60millions) January 26, 2024