OTTAWA — Canadians will be able to register on a do-not-call list to screen out pesky telemarketers starting Sept. 30.The date announced Wednesday by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission is 2 1/2 years after the commission started its formal process to set up the registry, and five years after do-not-call legislation took effect in the United States.
The CRTC's arrangement will enable Canadians who do not want to be contacted by telemarketers to register their phone numbers. There will be no charge for this.
Telemarketer calls will not cease immediately, the federal regulator cautioned, as callers will have 31 days to update their phone lists.
And unsolicited calls will continue to be permitted from charities, political parties, pollsters, newspapers seeking subscriptions and companies with which customers have existing business relationships.
If consumers continue to receive non-exempt calls 31 days after they have registered, they will be able to file complaints with the national do-not-call list operator.
Bell Canada (TSX:BCE) was named last year as operator of the registry, under a five-year contract.
To put their numbers on the list, Canadians will be able to log on to http://www.lnnte-dncl.gc.ca/ as of Sept. 30, or call 1-866-580-DNCL (3625).
For the hearing impaired, the toll-free number will be 1-888-DNCL-TTY (1-888-362-5889).
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