How will it be with annoying calls?

At least once, everyone who owns a mobile phone has experienced this. A marketing call where the caller tries to convince you of the benefits of the offer and ideally push for immediate consent to sign a new contract or even send money. The so-called telemarketing belongs in the Czech Republic, also due to these dubious practices, to Absolutely the least popular form of reaching customers. She could soon make a positive turn in its functioning amendment to the Electronic Communications Act. However, she came across a road between the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.

From the point of view of telemarketing, the most fundamental part of the amended law provided for the reversal of the scheme on the basis of which companies have the right to call people. Currently, the so-called opt-out principle applies, where you can contact any person in any list of participants (yes, there are several) does not state that he does not wish to be contacted. The House proposal included the opt-in principle, which allows only a person who has stated in at least one participant list that he wishes to be contacted to be contacted.

It was this new scheme that did not pass in the Senate, which created not only a disagreement between the two chambers of parliament, but also a misunderstanding among consumer organizations and even the Czech Telecommunications Office. “We are sorry for the disapproval. This amendment is fully in line with EU policy, among other things, significantly improve consumer privacy and otherwise positively regulated the conditions for the electronic communications market, which is very dynamic and the current legislation is already obsolete in many areas, “said Hana Továrková, Chairwoman of the Council of the Czech Telecommunications Office.

Consumers in particular encounter unsolicited calls with offers of contracts for energy supply or participation in energy auctions. Their essence is the consent to the application for the auction, in which the most advantageous energy supplier is to be selected. However, the auction is often not held. Offers are also frequent offers for “miracle” food supplements, for which they declare healing effects. The telephone sale of goods against coronavirus – special amulets or various preparations, the positive effects of which have not been proven, has also spread.

In the second half of July, the CTU hoped that the Chamber would succeed in the Senate’s decision to reverse by another vote. However, given the current “parliamentary holidays” and the upcoming elections, it is increasingly unlikely that the current composition of the House could resolve the matter. Telemarketing and its further form in the Czech Republic will thus probably lie in the hands of legislators who will be elected for the next term.

What do you think about telemarketing?

Source: CTU 1, 2