Two home-improvement companies pay a total of $170,000 over violations of the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules
News Release
26 October, 2015 – Ottawa-Gatineau – Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today announced that Canadian Choice Home Improvements Inc. and Le Groupe Hydro Hvac Inc. have paid a total of $170,000 as part of settlements over violations of the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules.
Acting on complaints filed by Canadians, the Chief Compliance and Enforcement Officer conducted investigations into the activities of the two companies for alleged violations of the Rules. The investigations established that Canadian Choice Home Improvements Inc. was registered but failed to subscribe to the National Do Not Call List (DNCL) and that Le Groupe Hydro Hvac Inc. had not registered nor subscribed to the list during specific timeframes. Both companies contacted consumers who are registered on the National DNCL. In addition, Le Groupe Hydro Hvac Inc. made calls to consumers who had previously requested to be put on the company's internal do not call list.
As part of their settlements, Canadian Choice Home Improvements has paid $140,000 in administrative monetary penalties and Le Groupe Hydro Hvac Inc. has paid $30,000. Le Groupe Hydro Hvac Inc. will review its current compliance program to ensure that similar violations do not reoccur in the future. Canadian Choice has decided to cease making telemarketing calls, but have agreed to implement a compliance program to avoid similar violations in the future should they begin making such calls again.
The CRTC reminds telemarketers that it is their duty to comply with the Rules, whether they make the calls themselves or hire a third-party agency to make calls on their behalf, and whether they are based in Canada or abroad.
The CRTC is continuing to enhance its monitoring to ensure telemarketers follow the 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.
About the National Do Not Call List
The National DNCL was launched in 2008 to protect Canadians from unsolicited telecommunications. Canadians may register their numbers permanently on the List at no charge. Over 12.9 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 the National DNCL website.
Quick facts
- Canadian Choice Home Improvements Inc. has paid $140,000 in penalties and Le Groupe Hydro Hvac Inc. has paid $30,000 as part of settlements over violations of the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules.
- Le Groupe Hydro Hvac Inc. will implement a compliance program to avoid similar violations in the future.
- Canadian Choice Home Improvements Inc. has ceased all telemarketing, as of August, 2015. Should Canadian Choice Home Improvements Inc, decide to resume telemarketing activities, they have agreed to implement a compliance program to avoid similar violations in the future.
- The Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules are a strict set of rules that individuals, companies and organizations must follow when making telemarketing calls.
- The CRTC is committed to protecting Canadians and continuing to enhance its monitoring to ensure telemarketers follow the Rules.
- To date, the CRTC has imposed penalties totalling over $6.4 million payable to the Receiver General for Canada.
Quote
"Canadians play an important role in our investigations of unwanted telemarketing calls by providing clear and complete information when filing a complaint. In this case, their information assisted us in bringing these two companies to conform to the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules. Today's announcement is another reminder to all telemarketers that compliance with the Rules is not optional."
Manon Bombardier, CRTC Chief Compliance and Enforcement Officer
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