Will ‘cold calls’ come to an end? “Aggressive telephone sales or scams with hidden subscriptions will soon be a thing of the past” | Domestic
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Everyone has received a call from an unknown number, after which a marketer tries to sell you a subscription, nutritional supplements or puzzles. Through a lot of quick questions, the seller manages to convince you of the product, and without knowing it you are suddenly subscribed or receive something. This type of aggressive telephone sales, called ‘cold calling’, must be curbed, according to Economy Minister Pierre-Yves Dermagne (PS).
The Federal Public Service Economy received 171 complaints from dissatisfied Pharmaxx customers. That company sells nutritional supplements in our country and used ‘cold calling’ until June 2023. Customers are called and asked to participate in a health survey. As a thank you, they receive a pack of nutritional supplements in the mail, worth 5 euros.
Anyone who agreed to this was secretly offered a subscription. A new package, worth 60 euros, automatically arrived in the mail every quarter. Customers simply did not know that it was a subscription and of course did not pay, after which a collection agency came knocking. The FPS Economy started an investigation into Pharmaxx, which stopped this system of forced sales by telephone in June last year.
To be clear, telephone sales themselves are still possible, but written confirmation is now requested
Spokesperson Minister Dermagne
The case is also the direct reason for an amendment being voted on today in the Economics Committee, which should restrict this type of sale. The fact that the amendment is linked to a bill that has already been submitted is a trick to get the matter through parliament before the elections. “To be clear: telephone sales are still possible, but written confirmation is now requested,” says a spokesperson for Dermagne.
This confirmation ensures that the consumer cannot register for a subscription without explicit permission. The law also ensures that a telephone purchase can be canceled up to 14 days after receipt.
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