Now more than ever, you need to sign up for the DNCL, Canada’s National Do Not Call List. Keep reading to find out why!

Here’s the scenario: You’re sitting around the dinner table with your family and the phone rings. You’re wondering: Who’s calling me at dinnertime? Chances are, however, you already suspect the call is from a telemarketing company. Next you wonder: How did they get my phone number? 

If you’re concerned about how telemarketers get your phone number, you have more reason than ever to be worried. For the first time ever, the Canadian government is selling your personal contact information, including your phone numbers, to interested marketing firms. Previously, when marketers wanted to contact you, they would buy or rent a list of information from a company that collected information on you. This list would include details such as what city or town you live in and your postal code. The good thing was that these lists typically did not contain a complete set of information.

Things have changed. Marketers no longer look to third-party list brokers for your contact information. They don’t have to! The government of Canada will gladly sell them a complete set of your information. That’s right!  The Canadian government is now in the business of selling your information! And, unlike the previous lists, the information that is now sold is even more complete. That means that, for the first time ever, thanks to the government, telemarketing companies now have access to your cell phone number.

Worried? Here’s the solution.

Step 1: Register both your landline number and cell phone number to the DNCL! It’s the only way to prevent your information from being shared. What’s more, unless you sign up for Canada’s DNCL, your contact information will automatically be included in the information that’s sold to telemarketers. If you don’t want your information shared, you need to take action and sign up for the DNCL. This will protect you from Canadian marketing firms with agents calling from within Canada.

Step 2: For more complete protection, submit both your landline number and cell phone number to the Do Not Call Registry in the United States. This will shield you from calls from American firms.
Be warned, though! Registering for Canada’s DNCL will not eliminate all telemarketing calls. Even after you’ve registered, the government allows the following organizations to still call your numbers:

• Canadian registered charities
• Political parties
• Newspapers (for subscriptions)
• Firms you have existing relationships with
• Companies you have recently purchased goods from
• Market research firms

And if you own a business, you’re out of luck. DNCL rules do not apply to telemarketing calls made to businesses.

You can protect your personal information by acting now. For instructions on how to sign up for the DNCL, please view our first video called “Stop Telemarketers with DNCL”.

And if you liked this article you can find more articles and videos for Bell Mobility users at http://cellarama.com/articles/ – At http://cellarama.com you’ll also find great contract-free cell phones for Bell Mobility. Written by A. Thompson

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Whenever I would call my dad at home he’d hardly ever answer. This was because his phone would ring off the hook all day. The caller ID would often read, “Unavailable.” Telemarketers would harass the poor guy all day. You would think buying a cell phone would be the best option, wouldn’t you? Guess again ? telemarketers have reached the cellular world too. The good news is that there is a “National Do Not Call List” that tells these intrusive callers you are just not interested.

Canadian companies calling consumers or hiring another company to call on their behalf must conform to the rules of the National DNCL. Violations could cost these companies up to $15,000 per violation. An individual telemarketer could have penalties of up to $1,500 per violation. Unfortunately non-Canadian companies calling from, or hiring someone else to call from outside Canada don’t have to subscribe to the National DNCL. The rules only apply to Canadian companies.

The number to the National DNCL is 1-866-580-DNCL (3625). The number for fax registration instructions is 1-888-DNCL-FAX (362-5329). To call by TTY: 1-888-DNCL-TTY (362-5889). You can, of course, register online at the National DNCL site: www.lnnte-dncl.gc.ca. Your number remains on the list for a total of 5 years. For the best protection also add yourself to the Unites States’ Federal Trade Commission’s Do Not Call Registry by calling 888-382-1222. Be aware that you can only register the number you are faxing or calling from.

You can always deregister your number and you can also allow certain telemarketers to call you. Permission can be granted verbally, via a written form, electronic form, or online.

Telemarketing companies or individuals can use the site to register their company’s information and pay for a subscription to an updated list of numbers not to call. Seeing the potential fines, I would think the modest price for a subscription is far better than the hefty penalties.

So once you have registered your number and you get a call, be sure to get information from the company calling you.

Now we just have to find a way to block all phone calls coming up as “Unavailable.”

And if you liked this article you can find more articles and videos for Bell Mobility users at http://cellarama.com/tv – At cellarama.com you’ll also find great contract-free cell phones for Bell Mobility.