A new survey shows the controversial do-not-call list is working well, despite earlier reports that some who signed up began receiving more calls than ever before.
The poll of more than 2,000 Canadians found that 80 per cent of those who registered are now receiving fewer unwanted calls.
"What our survey found was the do-not-call list is benefitting the great majority of those who registered a number on the list," Brendan Wycks, of the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association, told CTV's Canada AM.
"Fully eight in 10 say that since they registered a number they are receiving noticeable fewer calls."
More than six million Canadians have signed up for the list. Of those:
- 50 per cent say they are receiving noticeably fewer or far fewer telemarketing calls
- 20 per cent are receiving slightly fewer calls
- 10 per cent are receiving no telemarketing calls at all
However, some reported they are actually receiving more calls from telemarketers since signing up for the registry, which the federal government launched last September.
"There's a small but not insignificant minority, 13 per cent to be precise, that say they are receiving more calls since they registered with the do-not-call list," Wycks said.
That points to the need for greater regulation of the telemarketing industry in Canada and elsewhere, he said.
In January, a report from the Consumers Council of Canada said unscrupulous telemarketers could pay a small fee to access the list, then add the numbers to their call database -- defeating the purpose of the registry.
The council said there were not enough safeguards in place to protect the list from falling into the wrong hands.
The group also warned that the CRTC would have no jurisdiction if the list were to fall into the hands of foreign telemarketing companies who targetted Canadians.
Wycks said the new survey "gives us no insight" that the list is being accessed by fraudsters, and said the list is for the most part serving its intended purpose.
