Customers are given options to block fully or partially all calls
Finally, mobile subscribers will get the much needed relief from unsolicited telemarketing calls and SMS from Tuesday when the new strict regulations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to check pesky calls come into effect.
Communications and IT Minister Kapil Sibal along with his Ministers of State Sachin Pilot and Milind Deora will formally introduce ‘The Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulation, 2010' that paves way for imposing hefty fines on defaulting telemarketing companies as well as operators who fail to comply with the new regulations. The TRAI and mobile operators are likely to come out with a series of advertisements to make people aware about the new regulations.
To start or stop telemarketing calls/SMS, subscribers can call 1909 to choose his preferred option, while this can also be done by sending SMS to their respective operators.
Under the new regime, subscribers can opt for ‘fully blocked' category where all commercial calls/SMS will be blocked, while there is a ‘partially blocked' category to receive various promotional SMS.
If a customer wants to exercise the option of ‘fully blocked', he may send SMS ‘START 0' and if he wants to exercise the option of ‘partially blocked,' he may send SMS ‘START' and give option of his choice. For example, ‘START 1' for receiving SMS relating to banking/insurance/financial products/credit cards or ‘START 2' for real estate and so on. There are seven categories to choose from.
The new regulations have provisions of hefty penalty of up to Rs.2.50 lakh on erring telemarketing companies and blacklisting of habitual offenders. The regulations also mandate that no commercial communication, even for unregistered customers, shall be sent between 9.00 p.m. and 9.00 a.m., so that customers are not disturbed at night.
However, one new aspect of the regulations, included earlier this month, is that all subscribers will be restricted from sending more than 100 SMS a day. This has been done to ensure that people engaged in various businesses cannot send promotional SMS from unregistered phone numbers.
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.
Very very bad move, brothers..... its not good to put limits on the number of sms sent... the limit can be on the number of mobile numbers to which the msges are sent.... if so we can agree that even the count of 25 as limit .. i.e, one can send msges only to 25 mobile numbers, without any limitation on the number of sms. Students, volunteer organisation which request for blood donors are greatly troubled by this rule.
Something is good but something is bad for us. Now Customers can get relief Real Estate pesky SMS. But Some SMS are like Banking Information important for us.
Me and my friends are very upset due to 100 sms per day scheme because before two week i put booster card for sms to my mobile so i last my money due to this rule.
i think the best move should be the restriction should be like no customer or service can send at a time bulk messages for more than 100 numbers. but there should be no restrictions between sms of few numbers.that means you can put rule of you cannot send sms to more than 100 different numbers from single number per day. but there should be no restriction between two or three numbers. this would be real hurdle for those who have friends by which we chat through phone
Its a welcome move.The advantages are 1. No unwanted SMS during 9pm to 9am. 2. An advertiser registered with a particular service provider can send sms / call only that service provider's customers.He cannot spam remaining operator networks. 3. 100 sms per day stops nuisance jokes spamming our inbox. But there are some loopholes. 1. If we want to receive transaction alerts from your bank, we have to exempt banking from DND. Now other banks will spam our inbox with their advertisements.Same is the case with DTH operators which we need to depend for our transaction purpose. Nevertheless, its a good move. How long will it take for the advertisers to find new loop holes, we have to wait with our fingers crossed.Thanks for reading this comment.
Imposing 100 sms per day limit is not at all welcome. Otherwise the rule is good.
Much-awaited,good move. I will be saved midnight messages from an international lottery rascal with message "congratulations! You have won $50,000. Call......
A good move. It will be great if we could implement something for all those pestering calls offering loans etc.
I guess, banks & financial institutions are excluded from 100 SMS/day rule. Also the rule should exclude the schools/colleges from this rule. But refraining some from the law, provides a way for others to misuse the law in our country. Let's see how far this law gets implemented. Lastly, this is the only one good move by Congress(UPA) govt in the midst of all the scams.
Good move but with hasty measures! 100 SMS in a day per SIM or 3000 worth of SMS in a billing cycle is too less. There needs to be exclusions for Banks and financial instutions since they provide vaulable updates on account activity, payment reminders . What is the process to report defaulters?
Wish this decision was made more than a year ago. Anyway, better late than never! I welcome this decision and Mr.Kapil Sibal proved again that customer is the king. :)
Excellent move.This would prevent many accidents as customers receive promotional/advertising calls at peak office hours and while driving.
Excellent services. It should have been started early but no problem, great job Kapil Sibal. I believe you too have received the enormous amount of Pesky SMSes that's why you have started to bring such rules.
Though delayed, this is a welcome move. These pesky calls and sms'es have caused lot of disturbances to the common man. It would not be an exaggeration to say that these calls and smses result in losing numerous hours of valuable time/productivity. (It is interesting to note that it took a pesky call to a senior cabinet minister during his office hours for the government to realize what the common man goes through.)
Very good move. But must be implemented strictly.
This action was long pending as unwanted telemarketing calls and SMSes were nothing but a nuisance to most of the mobile users. Of course, there are some side effects as well as Schools will not be able to send SMSes to all the parents b'coz of the restrictions of 100 SMSes in a day. The Govt. should look into this.
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