The communications watchdog has threatened home insulation installers with fines of $2200 if they contact numbers listed on the Do Not Call Register.
The register was launched in July 2006 under the Howard Government to allow consumers to remove themselves from telemarketer call lists, excluding political parties, charities and religious groups.
Insulation installers garnered almost 400 complaints spurred by companies calling numbers listed on the registry – 43 per cent of the total received by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
Chairman Chris Chapman said the companies are disregarding consumer rights.
“The ACMA is investigating this sudden spike in complaints about insulation installers, and will be taking action against those that have failed to comply,” Chapman said in a written statement.
“If you don’t have procedures to comply with the register, then you should not be telemarketing – it’s that simple.”
Consumers who receive unsolicited calls should write down call details including the time and date, the name of the call centre, and the name of the company they represent.
Call centre companies have warned the registry will eat into revenues and lead to a weakened contact centre industry.
Westpac last year received a slap on the wrist by the communications watchdog for making prohibited telemarketing calls to its customers.
Dodo Australia was hit in 2008 with a $147,000 fine after it breached the Telecommunications Act for its handling of customer complaints.