news A solar company and its call centre firm have been issued formal warnings by The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) for making telemarketing calls to numbers on the Do Not Call Register.
In 2015, the ACMA received a large number of complaints concerning telemarketing calls relating to solar products and installation, prompting the organisation to run a national information campaign directed at the retail solar industry.
The ACMA said it worked with the Clean Energy Council and contacted more than 4,000 businesses to reiterate their legal obligations and the need to properly supervise any third-party call centres.
However, continuing complaints about one firm, Green Engineering (Vic) Pty Ltd, resulted in the ACMA formally investigating its telemarketing activities and those of its call centre, Smart Connections (RDBD Infotech Private Limited) which made lead-generation calls on its behalf.
The investigations found that both businesses were responsible for the telemarketing calls made to numbers on the off-limits register.
“As a result, these companies have been formally warned, but the ACMA cautions the companies involved, and other members of the solar industry, that if complaints continue, further enforcement action will be considered,” said ACMA Chairman, Chris Chapman.
The Do Not Call Register was established under the Do Not Call Register Act 2006 to allow Australians to be able to register their private or domestic fixed line or mobile telephone numbers to avoid unwanted marketing calls or faxes.
It is illegal for most unsolicited telemarketing calls or marketing faxes to be made to numbers on the register – which currently contains more than 15 million numbers. Thirty days after a number is registered marketers must stop contacting that number.
However, marketing calls from charities, market researchers, educational institutions and registered political parties are permitted, as are calls from businesses with which the recipient has an ongoing relationship.
Not had solar companies myself (been on the DNC register for years) but LOTS of people calling to replace my down lights (that I don’t have) with LEDs
I’ve been on the DNC list for nearly a decade, & I get calls from solar businesses about once a week. I get the bloody downlight spammers too.
Didn’t know that the Do Not Call Register was anything other than a publicity gimmick.
Being on the DNCR has no effect in stopping callers at my place
If you get these calls take down as many details you can about the company calling, where they are, telephone number etc as well as the company behind the telemarketer that wants to sell the solar panels or other goods. Even make an appointment to get the details of the Australian solar company.
The DNCR may not be able to fine the overseas telemarketer but the can fine the Australian company behind them. Report all the details to the DNCR. The DNCR has not been tough enough and should be fining these companies rather than just warning them after thousands of breaches.
Allowing market research makes it super easy to get around the dncr legally.
1st call people & ask if they have product-type yet, if not, ask if they’ve ever considered obtaining it,… eventually after a few more bits of information are garnered; If you think the person might buy your product, suggest that you could put them in touch with someone to discuss the product more & answer any questions they may have about it.
2nd call; This is via a sales person & only calls people that have agreed to obtaining more information about the product.
The sales call,(2nd) is then a qualified lead,(great for the sales person) & where an existing relationship has been established with the person sales seeks to call,(due to 1st call & permission given to call back). Hence, doesn’t violate the dncr.
Best solution, to even avoid the smart bastards .. voip phone number that sends calls to a virtual answering machine after X number of seconds.
Then if you have a good voip set up, the virtual answering machine emails you the voice recording as a nice tightly compressed audio file.
Checking missed calls that leave messages is super simple, access email, tablet/phone/tv etc. & click the file to play the message… You’ll also have, basically; No research, pollies, sales, scammers,[except the odd robot call with recorded msg] & the only messages that are left are from legit people, like your doctor/gym/friend with new appoinment times etc., or from friends; “call me the fuck back” .. Our family voip is 4 rings only .. hence the friends style msg ..LOL :)
Later, RIPP.
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