CALL TO END TELE-TROUBLE
(1)     The flight was delayed by three hours and, for once, the airline had sent the information in
time. Except that it came in the form of an SMS and since the message box on the mobile was
full, the recipient never got to see the message about the delayed take off. And as a result, he
had to waste three hours at the airport. And what were those messages that had clogged the
message box? One was an announcement about a contest, the other was promoting a marriage
bureau, yet another, a dating service.
(2)     Sounds familiar? Today, telemarketing’ has gone beyond being just an irritant. Earlier it
invaded our privacy, disturbed us at home and at work. Now they have even begun to affect
our lives adversely and can therefore no more be taken lightly. Several consumers have
missed important communications because of telemarketers jamming their mailbox with
messages. They have missed out on job opportunities, business deals. And they are not just
upset, they are angry.
(3) The extent of the problem can be gauged from the large number oftelemarketing calls made.
TRAI estimates put it at approximately ten billion calls annually (170 million subscribers).
And they have been a source of harassment for consumers. Through both landline phones and
cellphones, such calls have been invading consumers’ privacy. How much longer should
consumers wait for a law to put a stop to this?
(4)     At one time, consumers saw telemarketing as a necessary evil and wanted a “No call registry”
to prevent such calls to those who did not wish to receive them, but today they want a blanket
ban on telemarketing. And this call for a prohibition and not restriction on telemarketing is
slowly becoming louder. It is therefore in the interest of those who are making these
unsolicited calls (or sending messages) to regulate them, keeping in mind the interests of
consumers. Or else, there might well be a strong demand for a clampdown on telemarketing
perse.
(5)     Telemarketers may well argue about their right to advertise and promote a product or a
service. Well, it’s time they realised that they cannot exercise that right at the cost of a
consumer’s right to privacy. And if they fail to understand this, they have to be made to
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understand. And the only way to do it is through a legislation that not only puts a stop to such
unsolicited calls, but also provides for deterrent financial penalties in case of violation,
(6)     In India, the Telecom Regulatory Commission has come out with a consultation paper on the
issue and has suggested a “National Do Not CaW (NDNC) registry that will help.customers
prevent telemarketers from pestering them, While the initiative is welcome, such a move has
to be backed by a law that not only ensures consumers’ privacy, but also provides for stiff
financial penalties for violations and an effective mechanism for stringent enforcement