Do-not-call registry taking numbers from Dec

SINGAPORE - Consumers keen to avoid irritating telemarketing calls can start listing their numbers on a national Do-Not-Call (DNC) registry from Dec 2, a month ahead of the official launch.

If they make an early registration, they can expect to block unwanted telemarketing calls and text messages from Jan 2 next year, when the registry is launched.

But those who list their numbers later - after the launch - may still have to put up with 30 to 60 days of unwanted calls.

When a company checks its call list with the registry, the numbers on its list are valid for 60 days if they are not on the DNC registry - after which it must check again before making a sales pitch on the phone, through fax, or via SMS or MMS.

The validity period will be cut to 30 days from next July.

Consumers who receive telemarketing calls despite having listed their numbers on the registry can complain to a watchdog called the Personal Data Protection Commission. Yesterday, the Commission announced the registry's operational details, following public consultation.

Marketing messages sent via instant messaging apps - such as WhatsApp - to the numbers on the registry will be prohibited too.

Telemarketers found to be guilty of defying the registry rules risk a maximum $10,000 fine.

The only exception to this is if written consent has been given to companies from consumers to be contacted by telemarketers. Such consent given before the registry's launch will stay valid unless it is withdrawn.

The DNC registry is a key part of the the new Personal Data Protection Act, which aims to protect personal information from being stolen or indiscriminately collected and used for marketing.

The Act took effect on Jan 2 this year and the government-funded registry is a key part of it. Unlike the registry, whose rules will be enforced when it is launched, the Act will start biting only from July 2 next year.

From then, a fine of up to $1 million will be imposed on firms that fail to tell consumers at the point of collection how they plan to use their contact details, or fail to get their explicit consent before calling or texting them to market products or services.

The rules apply to overseas firms too.

Administrator Ariel Foo, 39, intends to be among the first to list her number on the registry. "It's very time consuming to pick up and reject unwanted calls," said Ms Foo, who gets daily calls from banks, property agents and others.

Teacher Sabrina Tu, 49, who has been waiting for the registry's launch since its announcement two years ago, said she will opt to block all calls and SMSes. "The problem has worsened these days," she said.

There are eight million mobile numbers in Singapore and 1.2 million home lines.

Local telemarketing firms wanting to check against the registry have to pay a one-time registration fee of $30 - foreign firms pay $60 - to create an account, which comes with free checks of 500 numbers each year. Beyond that, they have to pay between 1 cent and 2.5 cents per number.

itham@sph.com.sg

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