400,000 numbers on DNC list

Singapore's Do-Not-Call (DNC) Registry came into force yesterday with 400,000 numbers listed, and some businesses suspending their call centres in a bid to comply with the new rules.

As early as five minutes after the rules kicked in at midnight, "several companies" had checked the DNC Registry, which contains the phone numbers of consumers declining to receive marketing messages via phone calls, SMS or fax, said the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC).

A spokesman said this meant that companies are "serious" about complying with the rules.

Of the numbers listed on the registry, three quarters opted to block all marketing channels - calls, SMS and fax - noted the PDPC, which manages the registry, at a press conference yesterday.

Some 560 organisations have registered with the registry, with 95 organisations having looked up some 13 million numbers yesterday. Companies have to sign up in order to check phone numbers.

The Straits Times understands that some organisations have suspended their telemarketing activities as they scramble to comply with the new law.

So far, the PDPC has received two complaints from consumers about unsolicited SMSes.

The consumers said they registered their numbers on the DNC Registry last month, but received marketing text messages yesterday.

The PDPC said it is investigating the complaints.

myp@sph.com.sg

This article by The Straits Times was published in MyPaper, a free, bilingual newspaper published by Singapore Press Holdings.

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