Thrift Magic pays $250,000 for calling Canadians registered on the National Do Not Call List

OTTAWA, Sept. 17, 2014 /CNW/ - The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced today that Thrift Magic has paid a $250,000 penalty as part of a voluntary settlement over violations of the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules. The company also agreed to correct its previous telemarketing practices. Thrift Magic collects used clothing donations from consumers and sells them to their thrift stores in Ontario and British Columbia.

Acting on complaints submitted by Canadians, the CRTC investigated Thrift Magic for alleged violations of the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules. The CRTC found that Thrift Magic had made unsolicited telemarketing calls to Canadians whose numbers were registered on the National Do Not Call List (DNCL). Thrift Magic also failed to register with the National DNCL operator and subscribe to the List, and made calls outside the permitted calling hours.

In addition to paying an administrative monetary penalty, Thrift Magic will implement a comprehensive compliance program to ensure that similar violations do not occur in the future.

The CRTC is continuing to enhance its monitoring to ensure telemarketers follow the Unsolicited Telecommunications 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, which may lead 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's enforcement actions have yielded over $5 million in administrative monetary penalties, which are remitted to the Receiver General for Canada, and $741,000 in other payments.

About the National Do Not Call List

The National Do Not Call List was launched in 2008 to protect Canadians from unsolicited telecommunications. To date, Canadians have registered more than 12.5 million numbers on the List.

Canadians can register their numbers at no charge, verify whether a number is on the List or file a complaint about a telemarketer by calling 1-866-580-DNCL (3625) or visiting www.lnnte-dncl.gc.ca.

Quick Facts

• Thrift Magic has paid $250,000 as part of a settlement over violations of the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules.
• The Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules are a set of strict rules that individuals, companies and organizations must follow when making telemarketing calls.
• The CRTC is committed to protecting Canadians and is continuing to enhance its monitoring to ensure that all telemarketers follow the rules.
• To date, the CRTC's enforcement efforts have yielded over $5 million in penalties, which are remitted to the Receiver General for Canada, and $741,000 in other payments.

Quote

"We appreciate receiving complaints from Canadians registered on the National Do Not Call List who receive unsolicited calls. This information helps us in our investigations and aids us in our work to protect Canadians. We are pleased to report that Thrift Magic cooperated with our investigation and has now changed its telemarketing practices."

Manon Bombardier, Chief Compliance and Enforcement Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

Associated Links

Notices of Violation
What you should know about telemarketing in Canada
About registering and who can still call you
Understand telemarketing rules for compliance
Video on the National Do Not Call List
Anatomy of a telemarketing call

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SOURCE: Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

Media Relations: Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone] ; General Inquiries: Tel: [phone], TDD: 819-994-0423, Fax: [phone], Toll-free # 1-877-249-CRTC (2782), TDD - Toll-free # 1-877-909-CRTC (2782)