Parliament to Ban Unwanted Calls
- Teh days of unwanted calls pitching state aid, operator changes, or personal training accounts may soon be numbered.
- The core of the legislation aims to prohibit companies from contacting individuals by phone, either directly or through a third party, without their explicit prior consent.
- A recent survey by UFC-Que Choisir, conducted in October 2024, revealed that 97% of French citizens find commercial telemarketing calls annoying.
Parliament Poised to Approve Bill Curbing Unsolicited Sales Calls
Teh days of unwanted calls pitching state aid, operator changes, or personal training accounts may soon be numbered. A bill designed to combat fraud related to public assistance is nearing final approval in Parliament, with a Senate vote scheduled for Wednesday.
The core of the legislation aims to prohibit companies from contacting individuals by phone, either directly or through a third party, without their explicit prior consent. This consent must be freely given,specific,informed,unambiguous,and revocable. Companies will bear the duty of proving that consumers have clearly agreed to be contacted. The only exception applies to calls made as part of an existing contract.
A recent survey by UFC-Que Choisir, conducted in October 2024, revealed that 97% of French citizens find commercial telemarketing calls annoying.
Lucie Kapfer, 43, shared her experience: “The initial calls were about the CPF [personal training account]. Then the solicitations continued, several times a week.” She eventually disconnected her landline in an attempt to reduce the calls.
“But they continued on my mobile phone. Several calls a day; it was hellish,” she lamented. “Previously, the numbers used were easily recognizable, allowing for speedy filtering. Now, telemarketers are calling with area codes 03, 02, and even 06. It’s much more challenging to identify them.”
Frédéric Navarro, 52, who leads a local media outlet and regularly interacts with businesses, echoed this sentiment. “It’s a real scourge,” he said. “When I need to call someone,I send a message beforehand to warn them,and I ask people to do the same when they want to contact me.”
Legislative Journey and Scope
The measure, initially adopted by the Senate in November at the initiative of Senator Pierre-Jean Verzelen, gained traction in the National Assembly in March. Its inclusion, through an amendment by environmental deputy Delphine Batho, in a broader government-backed bill has brought it to the final stages of the legislative process.
“This telephone canvassing is a nuisance to our fellow citizens,” Véronique Louwagie, minister delegate in charge of trade, stated during a session.
previous attempts to regulate telemarketing,such as the Bloctel registry,which allows consumers to opt out of receiving such calls,have proven ineffective. Denis Grugeon, 46, despite being registered with Bloctel, continued to receive unwanted calls. He ultimately made “a radical decision: refuse all calls from numbers not registered in my address book.” He added, “If it’s an important call, the person leaves a message. Surprisingly, the telemarketers never do…”
The bill also extends to electronic commercial prospecting – including email, SMS, and social media – specifically targeting the energy renovation and home adaptation sectors.
Benjamin recher, responsible for institutional relations at UFC-Que Choisir, welcomed the text, stating that it “corresponds to a long-standing request from consumers” and puts an end “to a mode of commercial prospecting which no longer has to be.”
The legislation is slated to take effect in August 2026. While some deputies expressed concerns about this timeline, others opposed exceptions initially proposed for sectors like food companies delivering frozen goods.
Pierre-Jean Verzelen told AFP that the agreement reached by deputies and senators in the joint committee “was to say that the actors will have a year to organize themselves, but that we would not put any exceptions” for any specific sector.
Combating Public aid Fraud
The bill also encompasses measures aimed at combating public aid fraud, estimated at approximately 1.6 billion euros annually, according to macronist deputy Thomas Cazenave.
These measures include granting electricity and gas distribution network operators the authority to directly sanction consumers found to have tampered with their meters, according to Cazenave.
Additionally, the management may suspend the granting or payment of public aid for up to three months, renewable, in cases of “serious indications” of fraud.
La France Insoumise (Rebellious France) has criticized these provisions, citing concerns about “respect for the presumption of innocence” and the “separation of powers,” and has announced plans to appeal to the Constitutional Council.
# Parliament Poised too Approve Bill Curbing Unsolicited Sales Calls: Your questions Answered
Are you tired of relentless telemarketing calls? A new bill in Parliament aims to considerably reduce these unwanted solicitations. Here’s what you need to know, answered in a clear, easy-to-understand Q&A format.
## What is this new bill about?
This bill is designed to curb unsolicited sales calls in France. It’s nearing final approval and aims to protect citizens from unwanted telemarketing, focusing on stopping companies from contacting individuals without their explicit consent.
## What specific actions does the bill take?
The core of the legislation prohibits companies from contacting individuals by phone, or through a third party, *without* their explicit prior consent. This consent must be:
* Freely given
* Specific
* Informed
* Unambiguous
* Revocable
Companies will have the responsibility of proving that they have this consent. There is an exception for calls made as part of an existing contract.
## What’s the current state of telemarketing in France?
A recent survey by UFC-Que Choisir, conducted in october 2024, revealed that a staggering 97% of French citizens find commercial telemarketing calls annoying.
## How will this bill address the issue?
The bill directly tackles the problem by making it harder for companies to make unsolicited calls. By requiring explicit consent, it shifts the responsibility onto the companies to obtain and prove they have permission before contacting someone.
## Has this been tried before, and what makes this bill different?
Previous attempts to regulate telemarketing have been less effective. For example, the Bloctel registry, which allows consumers to opt out of calls, hasn’t been triumphant for many people. The new bill aims to be more effective by focusing on pre-emptive consent and stronger enforcement.
## What kind of experiences are people having with telemarketing calls?
Many people are frustrated. Lucie Kapfer, 43, shared her experience: “The initial calls were about the CPF [personal training account]. Than the solicitations continued, several times a week.” She disconnected her landline but continued to receive calls on her mobile phone.
Frédéric Navarro, 52, another person, expressed the sentiment that telemarketing is a “real scourge.”
## What sectors does the bill cover?
The bill extends beyond phone calls to include electronic commercial prospecting. This means it will also impact:
* SMS
* Social media
It specifically targets the energy renovation and home adaptation sectors.
## Are there any exceptions to the bill?
The bill will take effect in August 2026. Initially exceptions were proposed but have been dropped to be fair to all sectors.
## When will this bill take effect?
The legislation is slated to take effect in August 2026, giving businesses time to adjust to the new regulations.
## What are the other aspects of the bill besides curbing sales calls?
The bill also contains measures aimed at combating public aid fraud.
## What measures are included to combat public aid fraud?
The bill aims to combat public aid fraud, with measures including:
* Granting electricity and gas distribution network operators the authority to directly sanction consumers found to have tampered with their meters.
* Suspending the granting or payment of public aid for up to three months (renewable) in cases of “serious indications” of fraud.
## What has been the reaction to these fraud-related measures?
La france Insoumise (Rebellious France) has criticized these provisions, citing concerns about “respect for the presumption of innocence” and the “separation of powers,” and has announced plans to appeal to the Constitutional Council.
## In Summary: Key Takeaways
Here’s a brief overview of the main changes this bill will bring:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Primary Goal | Reduce unsolicited sales calls and protect consumers. |
| Key Requirement | Companies need explicit prior consent to contact individuals. |
| Scope | Applies to phone calls, email, SMS, and social media marketing, especially in energy renovation and home adaptation sectors. |
| Enforcement | Companies must prove they have consent. |
| Timeline | Takes effect in August 2026. |