Prince George, B.C. - A new survey (conducted by phone) indicates Canada's National Do Not Call list (DNCL) is working and  more people say they are getting fewer telemarketing calls.

 

More than eight in ten DNCL registrants (84%) say they now receive fewer telemarketing calls, up by four per cent from February of 2009.

The survey was commissioned by the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association (MRIA) to rate the registry's effectiveness. The MRIA governs and regulates Canada's marketing and public opinion research industry.

"This latest survey shows clearly that Canada's National Do Not Call List continues to benefit the vast majority of registrants by stemming unwanted telemarketing calls," says Brendan Wycks, Executive Director of MRIA. "Nationally, 54 per cent of those who have registered a telephone number report they now receive noticeably fewer or far fewer telemarketing calls; 21 per cent say they now receive slightly fewer telemarketing calls; and 10 per cent report receiving no telemarketing calls at all since signing on to the no-call list."

Some registrants to Canada's Do Not Call List, however, continue to be plagued by rogue telemarketers. The survey found that 12 per cent of registrants (versus 13% in the 2009 study) say they now receive more telemarketing calls than before they registered a telephone number.

"The fact that a significant minority of National DNCL registrants are now receiving more calls than before registering is troubling and underscores the need for tough enforcement of penalties for telemarketers who persist in telephoning people who have registered with Canada's Do Not Call List," says Wycks. "One clear problem facing regulators is telemarketers using random dialers to call Canadians whether they are on the no-call list or not. Many of these calls originate outside Canada, which makes enforcement difficult."
Canadians who receive unwanted telemarketing calls should get the name of the company and, if possible, its telephone number and provide that information to the CRTC, the agency responsible for regulating the National DNCL. People can notify the CRTC of unwanted telemarketing calls on-line by visiting www.dncl.gc.ca or by phone by calling 1-866-580-3625.

The survey also found that:
36 per cent of adult Canadians have registered their residential land line on the National DNCL compared to 33 per cent in the previous survey.

14 per cent have registered a cell phone number on the National DNCL versus 12 per cent in last year's survey.

Findings by province/region
The number of adults who have registered a landline telephone number on Canada's National Do Not Call List was highest in Ontario (45%) followed by Alberta (38%), Man/Sask (29%), British Columbia (29%), Quebec (28%) and Atlantic Canada (27%).

The number of adults who have registered a cell phone number on Canada's National Do Not Call List was highest in Ontario (17%) followed by Alberta (16%), British Columbia (11%), Quebec (11%), Man/Sask (9%) and Atlantic Canada (9%).

National DNCL registrants reporting that they now receive fewer telemarketing calls was highest in Man/Sask (91% versus 80% in 2009) and Quebec (91% versus 83% in 2009) followed by Atlantic Canada (87% versus 84% in 2009), Alberta (82% versus 71% in 2009), Ontario (83% versus 84% in 2009) and British Columbia (76% versus 69% in 2009).

National DNCL registrants reporting that they now receive more telemarketing calls was highest in Alberta (18% versus 23% in 2009) followed by British Columbia (16% versus 22% in 2009), Ontario (13% versus 10% in 2009), Atlantic Canada (9% versus 12% in 2009), Man/Sask (9% versus 15% in 2009) and Quebec (7% versus 9% in 2009).

 

(Sub-total and total percentages may not add up due to rounding)