Australia’s Do Not Call register has benefited local telemarketers and frustrated consumers, one industry commentator has claimed.
A survey from predictive dialer supplier CallSys has revealed that the total number of local telemarketing calls has been reduced by only 3 or 4% by the register.
“The clear winner of the Do Not Call register has been local Australian telemarketers,” said Stephen Rose of CallSys.
The research found that only a minority of telemarketing operations have to consult the Do Not Call register before making a call.
“Over 80% of our telemarketers operate under one of the many exemptions: charities, market research and companies with an existing business relationship,” Rose said.
According to Rose the scheme has, in fact, helped local telemarketers. He maintains the register acts as a list of people who are never going to buy, going so far as to label it a 'Do Not Buy' register.
“Telemarketers have been saved the inconvenience and expense of calling,” he said.
“The direct cost of calling a hostile consumer is about 50 cents compared to less than half a cent to check a number on the government-sponsored Do Not Buy (Call) register. This represents a very significant cost reduction for telemarketers.”
