Consumers Can Now Block Telemarketing: “Do Not Disturb” List is Online

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Não Perturbe (“Do Not Disturb”) list for telecommunications operators came into force this Tuesday, July 16th. Consumers who no longer wish to receive telemarketing calls offering specific telecommunication, pay-TV, and internet services may subscribe to this national list.

The online registration will be managed by the very companies, as determined by the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel). The measure is applicable to Algar, Claro/Net, Nextel, Oi, Sercomtel, Sky, TIM and Vivo.

How to block

A digital platform to be made available by these companies will enable customers to register their telephone number to stop receiving telemarketing messages offering telephone, pay-TV, and internet services.

To stop receiving calls, customers will be required to enter their full name, CPF, and e-mail, to generate a login and password.

According to Anatel, should customers request their inclusion and continue to receive calls offering telecommunication goods and services, they should call number 1331 and lodge a complaint. The sanctions will vary from a caution to a fine of up to R$ 50 million.

Other measures

An additional decision by Anatel is that these companies will no longer be allowed to make telephone calls with the purpose of offering their packages or telecommunication services to consumers who have registered their number in the national list.

Companies will be required to establish channels for their customers to apply for inclusion in the group, who no longer wish to receive calls with telecommunication service offers. Thus, in practice, companies are prevented from offering their products and services through telemarketing.

The agency also determined that the technical areas should study measures to combat the inconvenience generated by mute calls and bots, including those aimed at selling services of companies in sectors which are not controlled by Anatel.

According to Anatel, market studies estimate that at least one-third of unwanted calls in Brazil are made in order to sell telecommunication services.

São Paulo

In the State of São Paulo, there is currently a similar registry administered by the Procon-SP Foundation. The “Não me Ligue” (Don’t Call Me) list was created by State law in October 2008, which took effect in early 2009.

Consumers in the State of São Paulo who do not wish to receive telemarketing calls from any sector may register their respective numbers and thereby prevent them.

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