Do-not-call registry will be open for registration by end of the year

Do-not-call registry will be open for registration by end of the year

Unwanted phone calls from telemarketers will soon be a thing of the past. From Jan 2 next year, a national Do-Not-Call registry will be launched for people to list their numbers.


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Read the full statement from the Personal Data Protection Commission Singapore here:

With effect from 2 January 2014, organisations will have to check the Do Not Call (DNC) Registry before sending telemarketing messages to consumers with Singapore telephone numbers.

Set up by the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC), the DNC Registry is a secure database for consumers to register their Singapore telephone numbers if they wish to opt out of receiving unsolicited telemarketing messages. These telemarketing messages - sent via voice calls, text messages and faxes - are those which offer, advertise or promote goods and services for commercial purposes.

Mr Leong Keng Thai, Chairman of PDPC said, "With the setting up of the DNC Registry, organisations can now focus more efficiently on consumers who are interested to receive information on products and services. Consumers will also have the flexibility to decide if and how they want to receive telemarketing messages. The PDPC will monitor market developments and ensure that the DNC Registry benefits both organisations and individuals."

PDPC finalised the business operation rules of the DNC Registry after taking into consideration feedback received during the public consultation it conducted in May 2013.

DNC Registry for Organisations

Under the requirements of the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 (PDPA), organisations, whether based in Singapore or overseas, must check with the DNC Registry to ensure that the Singapore telephone numbers that they are sending telemarketing messages to, are not listed in the Registry.

To check the numbers, organisations have to set up an account with the DNC Registry and then submit their lists of telephone numbers for checking. Organisations can continue sending telemarketing messages to consumers who have registered with the DNC Registry if they have proof of the consumers' prior consent.

Individuals such as freelancers, real estate and insurance agents and those who are not employed by an organisation but wish to engage in telemarketing activities must also set up accounts in order to check with the DNC Registry.

Local organisations and individuals have to pay the DNC Registry a one-time fee of $30 to set up their accounts while foreign organisations pay $60. Organisations pay one "credit" to check each telephone number.

Every organisation or individual with an account in the Registry will be given 500 free credits annually, which means that they will be able to check 500 telephone numbers for free each year. This is part of PDPC's efforts to help organisations, particularly the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to lower their compliance cost.

Validity Period of Telephone Numbers Checked

Upon checking that the telephone numbers submitted by the organisations are allowed for telemarketing purposes, the Registry will return the numbers to the organisations. These numbers can be used for telemarketing over a period of 30 days. Once the validity period expires, organisations have to re-check the numbers with the Registry.

In anticipation of organisations needing more time to adjust to the checking requirement, PDPC will allow the checked numbers to be used for up to 60 days from 2 January 2014 to 1 July 2014. Thereafter, the checked numbers can only be used for 30 days before re-checking is required.

DNC Registry for Consumers

Consumers who do not wish to receive telemarketing messages via phone call, SMS or fax, can list their Singapore telephone numbers with the DNC Registry. They can register at the DNC website (www.dnc.gov.sg), send an SMS to the Registry or call the DNC toll-free numbers.

Consumers' DNC registration is free and does not expire. Consumers may deregister their telephone numbers anytime. The registration will also cease when consumers terminate their telephone numbers.

Consumers can expect to stop receiving unsolicited telemarketing messages up to 60 days after registering their telephone numbers before 2 July 2014; and 30 days after registering on or after 2 July 2014.

Early Registration with the Do Not Call Registry

Although the DNC Registry will be officially launched on 2 January 2014, organisations can access the DNC Registry website to create accounts and purchase credits in advance from 2 December 2013 onwards. They can start checking telephone numbers with effect from 2 January 2014.

Consumers can also list their telephone numbers with the DNC Registry with effect from 2 December 2013.

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