Wednesday, December 4, 2013

(Must Read) Want to Stop Unwanted Marketing Call? Welcome to DNC Registry!


Have you get annoyed by unwanted “Sales Call”? You will experience this once you get out of your studies and start to apply your first credit card.
It came out more frequent especially you gotten your new insurance policy, memberships, etc services (by all means anything that required your contact number).

Like for me, phone call like this: “Good morning sir, this calling from xxx company – are your convenient to talk for 3 minutes?”
Or this: “Congratulation Mr. Adam – you been our loyal customer from xxx bank. We wish to offer you a better protection plan…”
And this: “Hi Mr. Chua – we are from xxx fitness, your friend has referral to us to give your this 3 days fitness membership…”
Or even this: “You have won a 3 days SPA treatment with no obligation to sign up or payment for FREE!”

Or this: “Uncle, do you want to buy washing powder?” (This really happen =.=)

Marketing call even go towards, SMS, and IM (Instant Messenger) Annoyed by unsolicited calls and messages from telemarketers? Then you'll be pleased to know that the "Do Not Call (DNC) Registry" is going to kick off soon! (Already launch Starting from 2 Dec 2013) You can register your number with the new DNC Registry to prevent organisations from contacting you via calls, SMS/MMS, or faxes without your clear consent.

Under the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 (PDPA), organisations will have to check with the DNC Registry to ensure that they do not send unsolicited telemarketing messages to consumers who have registered.

Getting in SPH for the Discussion

Here are some of the sharing from the Personal Data Protection Commission of Singapore.

Some points that will be addressed in the session, includes: -

What is the DNC Registry? - How will it work to prevent me from getting unsolicited telemarketing calls/messages? - (I can't wait to register!) How do I add my number to the DNC Registry? - After registering with the DNC Registry, will I still receive calls/messages from telemarketers that I'm currently hearing from? Below also have a short Q&A segment at the end of the sharing session within PDPA and the BLOGGERS.

Starting from OMY- Janet introduction about the disturbance and the problem people faced during the daily SMS and phone call from sales.

Handout of the Day
The mic goto Debra explain about the PDPC background.

Personal Data Protection Act - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNTjFsEOeR4
Under PDP Act (video).

Personal Data like "Employment date, family history, financial, relationship etc" been populate in the general public without knowingly. All these information used by government at the daily basis.

So wondering all these, is this "Singapore Only" rules? Actually, this act also is according International Standard that already introduce around the world. This also to prevent the organization to have more correct usage of your personal data.

Overall, your personal data can be more control and access and reduce telemarketing messages.

There are 3 services provide by the DNC Registry
1. - No voice call registry
2. - No text message registry
3. - No fax number registry.

3 Simple Methods
All the business organization, before they make telemarketing call (they will need to check from 2nd Jan 2014 onward). Their contact number need to be seen and can't be be hide (No Anonymous Call) .

So you can follow the Steps 1,2,3 below to register:

Currently, after you register your number - within 60 days the existing non DNC Reg marketing company still able to contact you (as there is a grace period for them).  Then 2nd July 2014 onward, it will be changing to 30 days. Service marketing call from oversea currently is not applicable (Foreign business entity).

PDPC also backed by CASE and NLB,  they are the base agent and will publish the the acts and running a lot of similar publication. DNC Registry via Phone, email & SMS Easiest way is SMS -DNC and will never expired until you de-registered or change a phone line.

Do Not Call Registry for Consumers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FjTZq1WGnA

So here the DRC Commissioning member - Amos Tan VERSUS Bloggers on a very "TARGETED" Discussion


As this Topic mainly to raise awareness - for public to opt in to the services.


So the comprehensive Q&A question STARTS HERE?

1. Question:
Will the org to be block or the whole telco Like different products ? From SingTel - if they do have your consents -
Answer: YES.

2. How to define the clear consent?
Answer: Like shop put up a statement. It need to have the documentation.
For example, if I don't put the number - the marketing business can do what they currently do on you on marketing messages.
Like loan shark (SMS), some of the law will enforce to them even they need to check if is small. Most of the sales message having the unsubscribe reply- it's a requirement on a different control act (already in for the marketing). DNC will having the rights to block it. Even it change to other phone number, it will block it (The whole organization).

3. Is there a different If the consent to one agent, or given to the company? E.g. I want the agent A to contact me but not the company A.
Answer: It can go with the individual and block the general company. If your block for the SMS or IM like whatsapp, mms, line. all will be stop.
Frustration From the Marketing Call

4. So how a merchant to make use of this and get the proper consent?
Answer: A thick box and the submit button on the website or form for people to thick and sign.

Comments From Janet - Example running a cleaning service (contact number as individual public). She still will receive call, as consumer to "Organisation" will not be block.

So for a official complain channel, if want to complaint there is a need to get some information with additional steps to file a report. The forfeited company is regardless of the phone number they use. A charge of $1000 - $10000 penalty for violations. Consumer will need to pay to do tele marketing call, nominal cost recovery basis.

5. Do the company want to check for the number needed to pay?
Answer: Yes. The company will need to change the credit up to 500 numbers - pay one time registration fees of S$30.00 and will get this for per annual basis.
For the Payment Mode 1 , the charging is 1 credit for 1 number.
For Payment Mode 2, per use basis want 1000 for 1000.

6. Is friendly type of calling? Marketing partner, can they call me? Is the recruiter consider tele marketing call? What is in and what is out?
Answer: Donation is also out. The important is the "Nature of the Call" Business call from business to business is valid. The business call or SMS or the product and the services that related to local beneficial

7. Is the Skype consider a blockage?
Answer: No- not Singapore registered company is not under the law. However,  the end result is the company not suppose to call but not totally can't call.
According to the spam control act.

8. Is more Act will come concrete for future phases?
Answer: Maybe for the phase 2, yes.

So for the conclusion - This wrapper up with: For the company, just always focus to get the consents of your client. As for consumer, this DNC Register just a blanket to marketing call (It's not a HARD CODE SYSTEM that automatically filter out the sales message). So for each individual, you need to take responsibility of your own personal data on the permission giving to the company. Example for the lucky draw form on the website.

Ending Dinner :D


Hope you all enjoy the reading! Cheers!

*I have registered my number, do you?

Get your phone nunmber protected -> Register here http://www.dnc.gov.sg/

More Stories Please go to -> OMY official blog http://blog.omy.sg/blogclub/2013/12/03/dont-call-me-maybe/

Regards, Adam Chua
Co-Founder of iBusiness-Partner .COM

1 comment:

  1. Telemarketing can be a particularly valuable tool for small businesses.

    ReplyDelete