Do Not Call Register complaints nosedive by 60 per cent

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is touting a 60 per cent plunge in complaints regarding the Do Not Call Register as a result of improved telemarketers compliance.

The Do Not Call Register was launched in May 2007 and holds 3.5 million consumer fixed-line and mobile numbers that did not wish to receive unsolicited telemarketing calls. In the last two years, ACMA has dished out eight formal warnings, accepted eight enforceable undertakings and raked in more than $300,000 in fines from businesses that contravened the Do Not Call Register Act 2006.

Only 12,057 complaints were received this year compared to 30,060 from the previous year.

ACMA chairman, Chris Chapman, said in a statement that the significant drop in complaints signalled that through education and tough penalties, the telemarketing industry is heeding the warnings.

Phone users can still register with the Do Not Call list through www.donotcall.gov.au. Registrations are valid for three years.