The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has fined an online learning platform for calling people on the National Do Not Call List. The online learning platform violated the Unsolicited Telecommunication Rules and the Telecommunications Act.
Violations
The platform initiated telemarketing communications that resulted in a number of violations.
Telemarketers are prohibited from calling consumers whose numbers are registered on the National Do Not Call list (DNCL). Unless the company has the express consent of the customer, they cannot call them for telemarketing purposes.
A company can become a client that is allowed to call people on the National DNCL if they become a registered subscriber of the list and pay the applicable fees involved. This was not the case in this situation.
Additionally, there are restrictions on the times that consumers can receive telemarketing communications:
- 9.00am – 9.30pm Monday to Friday
- 10.00am – 6.00pm Saturday and Sunday
It was proven the company violated these restrictions.
Outcomes
As the Telecommunications Act states that a person is liable for violations committed by its employees in the course of employment and agents or mandatory when acting in the scope of their respective authorities the online learning platform was found responsible. Due to these violations the online learning platform must pay $100,000 CAD ($77,838 USD).
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