On 27 August, the UAE government implemented new laws against cold-callers, and the residents of the UAE could file complaints against companies that violate this law. According to the new regulations that came into effect recently by the Ministry of Economy and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), companies engaging in constant cold-calling could face fines of up to AED 150,000 along with their License termination.
The government has restricted the companies to make telemarketing calls only between 9am to 6pm, and not contacting the residents again on the same day if they reject your product and services. Let us discuss new cold calling laws and how the residents can avoid cold callers in detail.
What are the New Cold Calling Laws in the UAE?
The UAE authorities have set new laws for telemarketing companies, given below.
- The companies can make telemarketing calls only between 9 am and 6 pm.
- If the person has rejected the service, the company can not call them again on the same day.
- The telemarketers are prohibited from using any methods to sell their products to the clients.
- Telemarketing companies need initial approval to make such calls.
- The local citizens of the UAE can make complaints against companies violating the new cold-calling regulations.
The authorities have set these laws due to the possibility of unwelcoming telemarketing calls, which are inappropriate and annoying for the customers. The government is taking measures to protect the privacy of the customers by mandating prior approvals and limiting the hours of telemarketing calls.
Fines Imposed on Cold Callers in the UAE
The authorities have set 18 different types of penalties for cold callers, and the fines for these violations range between AED 10,000 and AED 150,000. Some of these penalties are discussed below.
There are fines ranging from AED 5,000 to AED 150,000 for companies that violate the new cold-calling regulations.
If a company does not get prior approval for telemarketing calls, it can face fines up to AED 75,000 for the first time, AED 100,000 for the second, and AED 150,000 for the third time.
Companies that fail to provide training in the code of conduct related to telemarketing to their workers will face fines ranging from AED 10,000 to AED 50,000.
Methods to File Complaints Against Cold Calling Firms
The deputy director general of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), Mohammad AL-Ramsi, has stated the following rules recently
- If the telemarketing company is violating the rules, you have to make complaints to their relevant licensing authorities.
- If it is a commodity, investment, or security company, then you can approach the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA).
- If it is related to a bank, you can submit complaints to the central bank in the UAE.
- If you receive a call from a personal number to sell you commodities or services, you can contact TDRA to file your complaint.
- If it is a licensed company in an emirate, then the customers have to approach relevant authorities.
“The Ministry of Economy prioritizes this initiative to prevent bothersome marketing calls made to the public, ensure that companies follow the appropriate guidelines and timings for promoting their products or services, and minimize the number of unwanted marketing calls,” said Safeya Hashem Al Safi, acting assistant undersecretary at the Ministry of Economy.
What to do if you get a cold call from a personal number?
According to new cold calling laws in the UAE, telemarketers are prohibited from making calls from their numbers, and if a person receives such calls without the company name or number, they can file a complaint via SMS.
Method to file a complaint via SMS. Type “Report” and phone number and send this SMS to 1012.
Consumers can go to the SCA website to fill in information and send emails to file complaints related to the SCA activities. The SCA authorities will investigate the matter, and if they find that the company has violated the rules, they will impose fines.
How to Protect Yourself from Persistent Cold Callers?
During the media briefing on Thursday, the UAE Ministry of Economy stated, “Do not call the clients who have registered in the ‘do not call registry’ (DNCR).” The DNCR is a phone directory that includes the number of residents who do not want to get calls from telemarketers.
The DNCR registry was set up by the TDRA (The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority). The TDRA works with other organizations to set laws and regulations, raise public awareness, share data, and supervise individuals.
Summary
With the new cold calling laws in the UAE in effect, the main priority is respecting the privacy of customers and getting prior approval from authorities. Companies must train their employees to use the DNCR registry when making telemarketing calls. With the help of new cold calling laws, firms can adopt modern and customer-friendly marketing approaches and avoid hefty fines.