Four companies pay a total of $92,500 for having violated the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules

The CRTC issued 32 notices of violation totalling over $2 million in monetary penalties during 2014-2015.

OTTAWA and GATINEAU, QC, May 7, 2015 /CNW/ - The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today announced that four companies have paid a total of $92,500 as part of settlements over violations of the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules.  The CRTC also imposed a monetary penalty of $30,000 on a fifth company.

In response to complaints filed by Canadians, the CRTC conducted investigations into the activities of four companies for presumed violations of the Rules. As part of settlements, these companies paid a total of $92,500 in monetary penalties. The companies are:

• AcademyOne Learning Ltd., a company offering educational tutoring – $25,000
• Eagle Water of Ontario, a water treatment company – $32,500
• Outsources Inc., a telemarketer offering calling services for telemarketing – $15,000
• Scentral Cleaning Services, a residential and commercial cleaning company – $20,000

The CRTC also imposed a $30,000 monetary penalty on Ontario Eco Energy Inc. for having made unsolicited calls for a client that had not subscribed to the List or registered with its operator.

These five notices of violation are the last associated with investigations closed in 2014-2015. During the past year, the CRTC issued 32 notices of violation totalling over $2 million in monetary penalties, which accounts for a third of the penalty amounts imposed to date. It also issued 16 warning letters and 5 citations.

Thanks to its ongoing efforts, the CRTC succeeded in closing a number of investigations that posed, and continue to pose, challenges for the Commission. Companies using automatic dialing and announcing devices with caller identification spoofing are often more difficult to catch, because there is often little information for tracking them. The CRTC also received many complaints regarding air duct cleaning companies. After lengthy investigations, the CRTC succeeded in concluding settlements with a number of these companies. Finally, the CRTC worked in close cooperation with its international counterparts on a number of investigations, and this helped strengthen its image and authority abroad.

The CRTC reminds telemarketers that they have a duty to comply with the Rules, whether they make the calls themselves or through a third party and whether they are within or outside Canada.

The CRTC is continuing to enhance its monitoring to ensure telemarketers follow the Rules and to reduce the number of unwanted calls to Canadians. The CRTC can discuss corrective actions with individuals, companies or organizations engaged in telemarketing, with a view to a settlement that includes an administrative monetary penalty and other corrective measures. The CRTC can also issue warnings and citations, conduct inspections and issue notices of violation.

To date, the CRTC has imposed penalties totalling over $6.2 million payable to the Receiver General for Canada.

About the National Do Not Call List

The National Do Not Call List (DNCL) was launched in 2008 to shield Canadians from unsolicited telecommunications. Canadians can permanently register their telephone or fax numbers on the list at no charge. Over 12.8 million numbers are currently registered on the list.

Canadians may register their numbers, check whether a number is on the list or file a complaint about a telemarketer by calling 1-866-580-3625 or by visiting the site www.lnnte-dncl.gc.ca.

Quick facts

• Four companies paid a total of $92,500 in penalties under settlements with the CRTC.
• The CRTC also imposed a monetary penalty of $30,000 on Ontario Eco Energy Inc.
• In 2014-2015, the CRTC issued 32 notices of violation totalling over $2 million in monetary penalties, 16 warning letters and 5 citations.
• The Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules are a strict set of rules that individuals, companies and organizations must follow when making telemarketing calls.
• The CRTC has made a commitment to protect Canadians and is continuing to enhance its monitoring to ensure telemarketers follow the Rules.
• To date, the CRTC has imposed penalties totalling over $6.2 million payable to the Receiver General for Canada.

Quote

"The year 2014-2015 was a very busy one for the CRTC, and we are proud of the results we achieved. Through our investigations, we strengthened the collaboration with our domestic and international partners, and we took enforcement actions that changed telemarketers' business practices to protect the privacy of Canadians. I encourage Canadians to continue sending us their complaints regarding unsolicited calls. This support is essential to our work.

It is important to remember that the CRTC's purpose is not to impose monetary penalties, but to encourage compliance with the requirements of the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules. To do that, we have a duty to remind telemarketers that they must comply with the Rules, whether they are within or outside Canada."

Manon Bombardier, CRTC Chief Compliance and Enforcement Officer

Related links

Notices of Violation

Compliance and Enforcement Decision CRTC 2015-178

Telemarketing and Unwanted Calls

Resources

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SOURCE Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

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