Suitelife Vacations Club pays $20,000 in penalties for violating Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules

OTTAWA-GATINEAU, July 30, 2014 /CNW/ - The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced today that Suitelife Vacations Club, which sells travel and vacation packages, has paid $20,000 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.

Acting on complaints submitted by Canadians, the CRTC investigated Suitelife for alleged violations of the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules. The CRTC found that through third-party firms, the company made unsolicited telemarketing calls to Canadians who had registered their numbers on the National Do Not Call List. Suitelife had also failed to register with and subscribe to the List before the calls were made. Additionally, Suitelife's third-party telemarketers did not properly address consumers' requests to receive no further calls.

In addition to paying administrative monetary penalties, Suitelife has committed to ensure future compliance with the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules and to implement a comprehensive compliance program that will include:

• the development and implementation of a corporate compliance program
• the appointment of an internal compliance officer to ensure ongoing adherence to the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules
• an education and training program for employees
• monitoring, auditing and reporting mechanisms, and
• disciplinary procedures.

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 four million of dollars 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

• Suitelife Vacations Club has paid $20,000 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 four million of dollars in penalties, which are remitted to the Receiver General for Canada, and $741,000 in other payments.

Quote

"We appreciate receiving complaints from Canadians registered on the National Do Not Call List who receive unsolicited calls. This information helps us in our investigations and aids us in our work to protect Canadians. We are pleased to report that Suitelife cooperated with our investigation and changed its telemarketing practices."

Manon Bombardier, Chief Compliance and Enforcement Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

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SOURCE: Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

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