Telephone canvassing has become a major concern (and frustration) for millions of French people who feel increasingly harassed by these unwanted and unsolicited calls. Although regulations have strengthened in recent years, consumers often remain helpless in the face of this aggressive commercial practice. Consequence: more than 6 out of 10 French people no longer answer the phone.
New rules, little applied
Since March 2023, there have been new rules governing telephone canvassing. Calls are now only allowed from Monday to Friday, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., then from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays are protected and are supposed to offer respite to individuals. In addition, the numbers used for canvassing must now begin with specific codes (defined by the government) and should allow consumers to identify them more easily.
Despite this directive, the reality seems very different: many French people continue to receive unwanted calls. Canvassers use aggressive techniques to keep the conversation going and make it difficult for individuals to end the call politely. Faced with this situation, a simple but effective tip emerged: ask the question “How did you get my phone number?”.
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Fed up with abusive cold calling?
Do like me, give them the device back 😁😉
https://t.co/zPvWw6PTwv— Morrison_H (@Morrison__H) September 6, 2024
This seemingly innocuous question is extremely effective: it takes the canvasser out of his usual script and places him in an uncomfortable position. Often, agents do not have a clear – and above all legal – explanation as to the origin of the numbers they call. Faced with this question, many prefer to end the conversation rather than embark on a slippery slope. They are exposed to serious financial and criminal sanctions in the event of a breach.
Master your language
This technique is part of a broader approach to regaining consumer control over their private lives. Beyond this question, it is advisable never to offend the person you are talking to: the latter can easily put your number back in the “pool” of numbers that their company will call, so you risk being harassed by another telephone advisor. By focusing on courtesy, you avoid incessant reminders from the same service provider.
In addition to these short-term means, it is recommended to register on the Bloctel list – which is the official service for opposing telephone canvassing. Although its effectiveness is sometimes questioned, this registration remains a tool to limit unwanted calls.
The most effective still remains services like the Orange Telephone application – which you can download here – and which relies on the community of millions of users: the latter indicate when a number is associated with cold calling. It will be automatically marked as such on your smartphone when the call center calls. This saves you from having to pick up these unsolicited calls.
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