Registration on Bloctel would not have the effect expected by all those who no longer wish to be canvassed by telephone.
The Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) conducted a survey on the effectiveness of the Bloctel cold calling blocking list in 2020. And the results are quite disappointing.
An investigation under the auspices of the Naegelen law
The DGCCRF launched its investigation into “ on compliance with the ban on professionals contacting consumers registered on Bloctel, the list of opposition to cold calling (articles L.223-1 et seq. of the consumer code) when several provisions of the Naegelen law came into force.
The latter leads to several changes in the field. It thus prohibits canvassing in the energy renovation sector and obliges professionals using telephone canvassing to subscribe to Bloctel. Similarly, it increases the penalties for offenders, multiplying by five the fines awarded.
Over 50% anomalies detected
Not what does it seem to cool the ardor of canvassers. Of the 800 establishments monitored by the repression of fraud, establishments chosen for the most part following reports made by consumers, 51% were in anomaly.
Several significant shortcomings were identified. Thus, during the collection of telephone numbers, the information that it is possible to register on the Bloctel canvassing opposition list is very often overlooked. More surprisingly, consumers who had chosen to add their number to Bloctel were nevertheless contacted. Finally, despite the formal prohibition of the law, people have been approached to carry out work intended to reduce their energy consumption.
As a result, the DGCCRF explains that it issued 185 warnings and 175 injunctions to professionals, most of whom then complied. 49 reports were also drawn up for professionals who included telephone numbers present on Bloctel in their call list or who offered energy renovation activities.
Source : Ministry of Economy
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