Québec Loisirs pays $200,000 for violating the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules

OTTAWA-GATINEAU, August 20, 2014 /CNW/ - The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced today that Québec Loisirs has paid $200,000 in administrative monetary penalties as part of a settlement over violations of the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules. The company also agreed to end its previous telemarketing practices and help promote awareness of the Rules. Québec Loisirs is a Quebec-based company that sells books and DVDs.

Acting on complaints submitted by Canadians, the CRTC investigated Québec Loisirs for alleged violations of the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules. The CRTC found that Québec Loisirs had made unsolicited telemarketing calls advertising its products to consumers whose numbers were registered on the National Do Not Call List (DNCL). These calls also resulted in violations of the Rules because Québec Loisirs failed to subscribe to the National DNCL and pay all applicable fees to the National DNCL Operator.

Québec Loisirs had made calls to numbers registered on the National DNCL as well as calls without registering to certain area codes. In addition to paying the administrative monetary penalty, Québec Loisirs has committed to ensure future compliance with the Rules.

The CRTC is continuing to enhance its monitoring to ensure telemarketers follow the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules and to reduce the number of unwanted calls to Canadians. The CRTC can discuss corrective actions with individuals, firms or organizations engaged in telemarketing, which may lead to a settlement that includes an administrative monetary penalty and other corrective measures. The CRTC can also issue warnings and citations, conduct inspections and issue notices of violation.

To date, the CRTC's enforcement actions have yielded over $4 million in administrative monetary penalties, which are remitted to the Receiver General for Canada, and $741,000 in other payments.

About the National Do Not Call List

The National Do Not Call List was launched in 2008 to protect Canadians from unsolicited telecommunications. Canadians may register on the National Do Not Call at no charge. Over 12 million numbers are currently registered on the List.

Canadians can register their numbers, verify whether a number is on the List or file a complaint about a telemarketer by calling 1-866-580-DNCL (3625) or visiting www.lnnte-dncl.gc.ca.

Quick Facts

• Québec Loisirs has paid $200,000 as part of a settlement over violations of the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules.
• The Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules are a set of strict rules that individuals, companies and organizations must follow when making telemarketing calls.
• The CRTC is committed to protecting Canadians and is continuing to enhance its monitoring to ensure that all telemarketers follow the rules.
• To date, the CRTC's enforcement efforts have yielded over $4 million in penalties, which are remitted to the Receiver General for Canada, and $741,000 in other payments.

Quote

"We rely on the complaints that Canadians submit to the National Do Not Call List. This information was extremely helpful to us in our investigation into Québec Loisirs. We are pleased to report that they have been cooperative and have agreed to change their telemarketing practices."

Tom Lowry, Director, Telecommunications Enforcement, CRTC

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SOURCE: Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

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