Canada’s long and inexplicably delayed do-not-call list is crawling toward implementation but, as many have pointed out, the legislation is so full of holes that being on the list isn’t going to stop the phone from ringing.
One of those who has detailed the weaknesses is Michael Geist, who points out both the flaws in the legislation and a way around them:
The premise is simple – under the law, exempted organizations (which include charities, political parties, polling companies, newspapers, and companies with a prior business relationship) are permitted to make unsolicited telephone calls despite the inclusion of a number in the do-not-call registry. However, organizations must remove numbers from their lists if specifically requested to do so.
In effect, there’s a loophole in the loopholes, which Michael is going to let us all use through iOptOut, a one-stop web site “that will allow Canadians to opt-out of further phone calls (and emails) from dozens of organizations with a single click.” He explains:
IOptOut takes advantage of this approach by allowing Canadians to create and manage a personal do-not-call list that begins where do-not-call legislation ends. Registrants are be able to view a categorized list of organizations where they can opt-out of further contact. To do this, the site sends an email notification to each organization requesting that registrants’ name, email address and phone number(s) be removed from their active marketing lists. The site includes a full FAQ, a blog on the latest do-not-call developments, and wiki that allows users to identify new organizations to include in the iOptOut database. Users have the choice of keeping their personal data on file to update their opt-outs as new organizations are added or to delete it completely within 24 hours.
Not only am I going to sign up for this, I’m going to all I can to spread the word. Starting with this post.
Tags: canada, do not call
