From 2012 to 2017, over a thousand Canadians received unwelcome calls promoting real estate services
Over a thousand Canadians have reported receiving unwelcome calls from a third-party telemarketer hired by several real estate, investment, and mortgage brokerages, according to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.
The calls, which took place from 2012 to 2017, were intended to recruit prospective clients – a strategy that violates the CRTC’s Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules.
“Under the Telecommunications Act, a person can be held liable for a violation that is committed by a third-party agent,” the CRTC said in its news release.
The Commission said that, as of November 10, it has issued 44 citations, 258 warning letters, and 23 notices of violation to hundreds of agents and brokerages who used the unnamed telemarketing firm. The penalties totalled $103,300.
“Among other things, individuals and businesses who hire a firm to make calls on their behalf must ensure that the telemarketer is updating its calling list and that no calls are being made to consumers whose telephone numbers have been registered on the National Do Not Call List for more than 31 days,” the CRTC said. “Should the telemarketer fail to do so, the contracting individual or business can be held liable for their violations.”
The CRTC urged brokerages to comply with the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules. This includes making sure that agents have access to the latest version of the Do Not Call registry.
Veronica Love, senior vice president at TMG The Mortgage Group, said that her organization is aware of the risks posed by enlisting such third-party services.
“I hadn’t heard this story, but we just trained on this again this week,” Love told MBN. “We are always reminding our agents to use our systems, as they are [Canada Anti-Spam Law] compliant, and to be aware of lead generating or telemarketing companies.”
