To regulate unsolicited commercial call and messages TRAI has notified "The Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulations, 2010" which came into force from 27th September, 2011.
Under this regulation Customers (landline and mobile) who do not want to receive commercial communications can dial or SMS to 1909 (toll free) and register in either of the two categories:
1) Fully Blocked Category- stoppage of all commercial Calls/SMS .For this one has to write "START 0" and send it to 1909
2) Partially Blocked Category- stoppage of all commercial Calls/SMS except SMS from one of the opted preferences. For this one has to send SMS 'START' with one or multiple options from the list of seven categories.
There are at present 7 preferences to choose from-
For the convenience of subscribers, the TRAI has made it mandatory for all operators to set up a facility for registration of complaints of customers regarding receipt of unsolicited commercial calls either through voice calls or SMS, which will be toll free. The new regulations have provisions of hefty penalty of up to Rs.2.50 lakh on erring telemarketing companies and blacklisting of habitual offenders.
Under this regulation Customers (landline and mobile) who do not want to receive commercial communications can dial or SMS to 1909 (toll free) and register in either of the two categories:
1) Fully Blocked Category- stoppage of all commercial Calls/SMS .For this one has to write "START 0" and send it to 1909
2) Partially Blocked Category- stoppage of all commercial Calls/SMS except SMS from one of the opted preferences. For this one has to send SMS 'START' with one or multiple options from the list of seven categories.
There are at present 7 preferences to choose from-
1)Banking/Insurance/Financial Products/Credit Cards,
2) Real Estate,
3) Education,
4) Health,
5) Consumer goods and automobiles,
6) Communication/Broadcasting/Entertainment/IT,
7) Tourism.
For example: To receive messages relating to only Health products, then send SMS "START 4" to 1909. Similarly, for receiving messages relating to Real Estate and Education, send SMS "START 2,3" to 1909.
On successful registration an SMS confirming exercised options and a Unique Registration Number within 24 hrs. The registration will be effective within 7 days of placing the request with the service provider.
For example: To receive messages relating to only Health products, then send SMS "START 4" to 1909. Similarly, for receiving messages relating to Real Estate and Education, send SMS "START 2,3" to 1909.
On successful registration an SMS confirming exercised options and a Unique Registration Number within 24 hrs. The registration will be effective within 7 days of placing the request with the service provider.
Furthur all commercial calls will come from number starting with 140 and only between 9am to 9pm. Also, in order to control the possibility of SMS packages (those allow a very large number of SMS per day) to be used by the telemarketers for sending large number of SMSs from a normal telephone number, a limit of 100 SMS per day per SIM has been laid down under these regulations except on blackout days.
was it neccessary to put limitations on sms packages?
ReplyDeleteIt was good to restrict unsolicited calls or texts..
Limitations on sms package is widely debated...i think govt should make a way out to allow normal consumers to use unlimited sms package
ReplyDelete