End of an era for spam calls in South Africa

[Kirsten Minnaar]

End of an era for spam calls in South Africa

New regulations require all direct marketers to register with the National Consumer Commission's opt-out registry and to provide consumers with stronger protections against unsolicited marketing.

 

[EmmanuelGoldstein]

Next please: "South Africans kissing spam calls goodbye"

 

[ctriaan]

So we have to opt out first for them to stop breaking the law.

 

[saor]

Will this be as effective as RICA?

 

[EmmanuelGoldstein]

Will this be as effective as RICA?

Even more so...

 

[Brian_G]

Who's gonna prosecute offenders?

More smoke & mirrors. Vote for Squirrel

 

[ToxicBunny]

I should have to opt into Spam calls at a global level, and then explicitly with each and every provider.

It should be a blanket default opt out.

 

[Creag]

I know I am late to the conversation, but does anyone know who is defined as a direct marketer? As an example, I took a call from a Remax person inquiring if I want to sell my property. Personally, I consider the likes of Remax in this context to be scum a direct marketer.

I also detest that I must opt out. What kind of constitutional right is that. Heck, it should only be if I opt in, surely.

 

[Creag]

Reading through the article (and I know I shouldn't), the following stands out to me:

• there is no proper reference to the gazette, there is no link either
• there is no mention of effective date of this regulation (a publish date does not equal effective date!)
• there is no process provided in the article to opt out, no weblink either
• this feels like a Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr sponsored article

I found an opt out link that requires me to login or register as a new consumer before I can opt out and the site is so frigging slow, it almost feels like it is a dud (but this is probably the standard for anything government)

 

[geezer]

For those interested, here is where you have to register: https://eservice.thencc.org.za/Consumer/CreateConsumerHomePage

But as @Creag has said the site is sooooooooo sloooooow.

 

[Creag]

Also, the kind of information that is obligatory is frigging ridiculous:

• Status - alive or dead
• Marital status
• Upload only a copy of your ID

Why?

 

[AnimateX]

90% of my spam comes from MTN themselves, abusing broadcast alerts, flash SMS' and spam from the MTN menu app that seems impossible to block/remove without resorting to ADB.

 

[Pegging]

How about an opt in database instead. Anyone who wants to be scammed or spammed can enter their details themselves.

 

[AnimateX]

How about an opt in database instead. Anyone who wants to be scammed or spammed can enter their details themselves.

I sometimes wonder if this is what other countries have implemented because my friends in Europe are always confused when I mention I get spammed by my whole country including my operator.

 

[purrr]

Also, the kind of information that is obligatory is frigging ridiculous:

• Status - alive or dead
• Marital status
• Upload only a copy of your ID

Why?

Yip, why I didn’t register. Not uploading my ID.

 

[Grubscrew]

The regulation is badly writen and I doubt proper legal advice was taken. Also it is my opinion that this is just a hidden tax from the government. Look at the fees and charges. This isn't to stop spam but to make money from it....