France Bans Unsolicited Telemarking Calls
Starting today, unsolicited telemarking calls are banned in France unless consumers explicitly consent to them. Companies that violate the law can face fines of up to 375,000 euros per call, though existing customers can still be contacted with related offers. Le Monde reports: The government says the law is a response to years of consumer complaints. Authorities estimate that about…
Starting today, telemarketing calls to French consumers are prohibited unless individuals have given explicit consent. Companies found breaking this law can be fined up to 375,000 euros per call. Exempt from this rule are existing customers who receive relevant offers. According to Le Monde, the government implemented the ban in response to years of complaints from consumers.
Authorities estimate that nearly three-quarters of French people receive at least one unsolicited sales call each week, with many receiving more. In 2024, 11 consumer organizations jointly advocated for the ban, criticizing the relentless harassment of consumers through countless unwanted telemarketing calls to both landlines and mobile phones.
The new law prohibits businesses from contacting consumers without prior consent, which can be withdrawn at any time. Previously, French consumers could register their numbers with a government-run service to avoid marketing calls, but consumer groups noted that some call centers disregarded this list. An Ireland-based company was fined 6 million euros last year for violating France's previous telemarketing rules by calling numbers on the no-call list.
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