“There will be no tolerance period”, said this Tuesday, February 28 Olivia Grégoire, Minister Delegate in charge of small and medium-sized enterprises, trade, crafts and tourism. From March 1, 2023, telephone canvassing of consumers will only be authorized from Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. It will be prohibited outside these hours, and therefore at any time on weekends and public holidays. “We announced these measures last fall,” she clarified.
Consumers may not be solicited more than four times per month by telephone by the same professional or by a person acting on his behalf. If the consumer refuses this canvassing during the conversation, he cannot be solicited again before the expiration of a period of sixty calendar days from this refusal.
Fine of 75,000 to 375,000 euros
Violation of these rules will be sanctioned with an administrative fine of €75,000 for a natural person and €375,000 for a legal person.
This decree excludes calls from polling institutes, non-profit associations and public services. It also does not apply to calls for the supply of newspapers, periodicals or magazines.
“Peace and employment”
If you have given your authorization to a company to contact you again in a specific context but you have the feeling that you are being approached for additional services, you can file a report on the Bloctel government site (bloctel.gouv.fr). This is a free service that allows you to register up to ten landline or mobile telephone numbers, to oppose cold calling from these numbers. Bercy also invites professionals and individuals to visit the Frequently Asked Questions on the Bloctel site, available from February 28, 2023.
In legislating, the government tries to maintain a delicate balance. This is, for Olivia Grégoire, “reconcile the right to more tranquility for the French and the maintenance of jobs in small and medium-sized enterprises in France”. In France, the telephone canvassing sector employs 66,000 people.