Home : Blogs : Marg Scheben-Edey - Collingwood, Ontario : Inside Collingwood - Blue Mountain, Ontario

Don’t Call Me, I’ll Call You

Thanks to privacy legislation introduced in Canada over the last year, consumers can expect privacy with respect to their confidential information. As a result, we have seen many significant changes within the real estate industry governing the collection, storage and use of information.

This fall, new legislation will give consumers the power to eliminate most telemarketing calls to their land line and cellular phones if they wish. As explained in a report on the CBC website, the Canadian "Do Not Call" Registry will be modeled after the American system which blocks over 80% of unwanted calls. Personally, I couldn't be more pleased. Not only do I really dislike getting unsolicited sales call at home but, I also have a level of discomfort with people in the real estate business using telemarketing to generate business. I have never once felt the need (or desire!) to do so myself in almost 19 years in this business.
A statement on Industry Canada's website says:

"Once the list is operational, Canadians who do not wish to receive calls from telemarketers will be able to add their telephone number to a single centralized list that telemarketers will be required to download regularly and respect. Both the United States and the United Kingdom have similar systems."

It goes on to say, "Penalties of up to $1500 per offending call for individuals and up to $15 000 per offending call for corporations would be imposed for telemarketers who fail to respect the list. Funding to operate the list will be obtained on a cost-recovery basis from telemarketers themselves."

Bell Canada has recently been awarded the contract to operate the registry and compliance guidelines can already be found on their website.

So, really, don't call me, I'll call you. Bye now!

When it's time to buy or sell real estate in the Collingwood, Blue Mountain or Georgian Triangle area, http://www.collingwood-bluemountain.com/ contact Marg; an experienced and competent Broker who's ready whenever you are.

Posted by Marg Scheben-Edey - Collingwood, Ontario on 01/17/2008 05:56 PM

Comments (10)

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10 Comments on Don’t Call Me, I’ll Call You

Marg - Now all we need is a don't spam me list but then they operate mostly off shore just as the telemarketers have started to do.

01/19/2008 03:46 PM

by Kathy Clulow ASP® SRES® (RE/MAX Scugog Realty Ltd Brokerage)

Kathy - Being the victim of a recent Sympatico "platform upgrade" which then resulted in hundreds - and I mean hundreds - of spam messages a day, I agree with you totally! Heck, I'd pay a fair bit to get on a dont-spam-me list.

01/19/2008 06:46 PM

by Marg Scheben-Edey - Collingwood, Ontario (RE/MAX four seasons realty limited)

What are your thoughts on charging per email? 1cent an email. Think that would cut back on the spam?

01/20/2008 08:08 AM

by Stephen Winters - ABR (Remax Realty Specialists)

Stephen - I've also thought there is some merit to that idea since many people (myself included) may use email too easily. I know it has changed my work day as I've had to add on hours for dealing just with email. If we had to pay each time, maybe it would make us stop however, I can't think of anyway it could be possible. Can you?

01/20/2008 12:24 PM

by Marg Scheben-Edey - Collingwood, Ontario (RE/MAX four seasons realty limited)

Marg...seems like a conflict of interest with Bell being awarded the contract to ~~control~~ err, manage the list. They are one of the worst offenders!

BTW, I just got off the phone with the newest 'telemarketer' scam...'Don't worry, I'm not trying to sell something'!

01/21/2008 10:05 AM

by Dane Caldwell - Downtown Toronto Decorator Home Stager (2 Hounds Design + Home Staging)

Dane - Oh, just like the fellow from Direct Energy who showed up at my door last week. Kind of makes me want to run and hide from the door, the phone and the mail carrier. The funniest thing was a few summers ago, a door-to-door salesperson appeared on the doorstep at our cottage which is a log cabin on 25 acres of bush in the middle of nowhere, Now that is what I called a determined salesperson!

01/21/2008 03:15 PM

by Marg Scheben-Edey - Collingwood, Ontario (RE/MAX four seasons realty limited)

Wow, I wonder if he did what we all tell door to door sales people to do...get lost!

Imagine his surprise at finding you...what luck! ;)

01/22/2008 01:08 PM

by Dane Caldwell - Downtown Toronto Decorator Home Stager (2 Hounds Design + Home Staging)

That is great news. I don't find the need for cold calling but I hate the fact the now my cell phone is getting hit by telemarketers. I will be putting that number on as soon as it goes operational.

01/23/2008 09:04 AM

by Toronto Real Estate | Steven Campbell | Sales Representative (Homelife Victory Realty Inc., Brokerage*)

Marg, I think this is great and I'm with you on disliking telemarketers. I'll definitely add my name to the list.

I've never done cold calling to increase business either, and I find it an intrusive way to find new clients.

01/23/2008 02:07 PM

by Jo-Anne Smith-Belleville, Quinte and Prince Edward Region Real Estate, Ont. (Royal Lepage Proalliance Realty, Brokerage)

Steven and Jo-Anne: As much as we may not like telemarketers or telepmarketing, I do recognize that there are still many real estate salespeople out there who do this as a key component of their businesses. That then makes me think of ALL the many companies out there who are in the same boat; they'll all have to develop new marketing strategies. Does that mean more junk mail, more spam, more door to door?

01/23/2008 03:45 PM

by Marg Scheben-Edey - Collingwood, Ontario (RE/MAX four seasons realty limited)

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