An estimated 16 million Canadian residential telephone numbers will be off limits for telemarketing by 2010, as a result of Canada’s new Do Not Call List that’s being launched today by Bell Canada.
Nearly two-thirds of Canadians say they will register their telephone numbers to avoid telemarketing calls, according to poll findings released by VoxPop.
According to the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association Canadians will rush to register their telephone numbers, either by calling a toll free number or online. However, the MRIA found that only 51% of Canadians are aware of the Do Not Call list.
A survey conducted by Harris/Decima found that 72% of Canadians intend to sign up for the Do Not Call List.
About 66% of businesses that currently do telemarketing anticipate switching to direct mail to acquire new customers, according to Harris/Decima.
Telemarketers are required to scrub telemarketing lists against a Do Not Call file to suppress telephone numbers of those who registered to avoid receiving calls. Violators will be subject to fines of $1,500 per individual and $15,000 per company.
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