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THE WEEKEND Friday April It Page It Ministry releases report on telemarketing Telemarketing the sale of pro ducts and services over the telephone is good news for many people in Ontario Experts at On tarios Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations say most consumers like the convenience of shopping for quality goods at home Businesses like being able to reach many customers quick ly- But not all consumers are nap py with telemarketing techni ques Thats why Ontarios con sumer ministry recently released a major report on the subject Telemarketing in Canada was prepared by a ministryled FederalProvincialTerritorial government workinggroup Meetings were held to compare notes on telemarketing practices across the country so the group could indentUy problems and possible solutions The committee heard from many consumers Some reported being pushed into buying items they didnt want by aggressive telephone salespeople Lawenforcement agencies said that although telemarketing scams arent common it can be difficult to catch up with promoters who do business by phone Someone PLUMBING SUPPLIES Acrylic Bath Shower Units Whirlpools Spas Pedestals Vanities Medicine Cabinets mm 8772293 teOSSGLL PLUMBING SUPPLIES LIU I PLUMBING SUPPLIES I PLUMBING SHOWROOM Armstrong Ave Georgetown ALUMINUM VINYL 9 INCH SEAMLESS EAVESTOOUOKNa SKITTERS WINDOW DOORS ASPHALT YEAH WRITTEN GUARANTEE OR 8731951 Join the Mw home ctetnlngwtti anew Cortril Vacuum System r It can be into new and existing homes Foe mora informttion calt visas first level ft second level sq ft AMLY CUSTOM HOMES Atl Phases of General Contracting Complete Homes or Basement Frame Package Labour All Material Supplied PLEASE LEAVE MESSAGE TUGA FORMING LTD Concrete Foundation Cuttom Hotnes Our Specialty Dottier W65 CURTIS EVANS PAINTING WALLPAHMNO phone VICTORS GLASS ENCLOSURES Solariums Sunrooms Pool Enclosures Entrances ovnti WELL DRILLING 5 Diameter Cable Drilling Pump Solas ft Service 8778329 or HERWYNEN SAWMILL Bruce BED WESTERN CEDAR 8561180 R R YlkM Pag No lANDSCAHNO UNCI Drlvewoys Decks Pruning Interlocking Stone And Much Morel ROBERT FREESTONE CONSTRUCTION LTD Residential A Commercial Project To Your Specifications or Ours 8772698 operating from another province or country can take advantage of unsuspecting Ontario consumers There may be little time to issue a public warning Many disputes with telemarketing firms result when unwary customers give out credit card numbers over the telephone If they change their minds about wanting the product or the pro moter is dishonest it may be dlf- LENNOX ST TERRY ROWLEY MECHANICAL INC SI Milton 8781979 WATER PUMP Sales Service Serving ErftSHMt BOYES PLUMBING 8554232 T Mounting Monthly Debts Planning Improvement To Your Home Call Us For All Your Mortgage Needs CORES WELL DRILLING 5th Wotting Generation complete water systems installed 8784515 milton stum CUSTOM DIS1QN Mirror Mirror Closet Door Sliding TRENCHING EXCAVATING POST GRADING DRIVEWAYS 7756 Representing UAUartcrafl Hwy25 lmUnouthof ACTON 8534577 to have unwanted credit- card charges reversed Other consumers dislike automated dialing and announcing devices or com puterized voices that phone to try to sell something Some see them as an invasion of privacy Others just dont like talking to a machine Despite the problems telemarketing is growing in popularity and profits Canadian telephone companies now make more than billion per year from this business The report on telemarketing provides options for action by and government such as the following The name of the company and other important information should be told to consumers at the start of thecal Consumers should have to give permission before their names are included on lists to be sold to promoters Governments and law- enforcement agencies should co ordinate efforts to indentify telemarketing scams Businesses that profit from telemarketing should provide consumer education about their practices Help for consumers who dont want to receive calls from telemarketers is now being of fered by the Canadian Direct Marketing Association CDMA More than 80 per cent of Cana dian telemarketers are members of this business association A new program called the Telephone Preference Service is available free to con sumers who want their names taken off most telemarketers lists Registering with which is as simple as sending a letter say ing you want your name taken off the lists of association members reduces the number of calls con sumers receive from businesses that traditionally use telemarketing These include magazine publishers insurance companies book and record clubs and market research firms says CDMA President John Gustav- son While most people enjoy receivingsinformation about pro ducts and services in their homes some dont To help them out were providing this service Companies that dont comply with the TPS program will find their association membership revoked Will registration with TPS end all advertising calls Nd says Gustavson Con sumers who register will still get calls from local merchants religious and charitable organizations and others that dont belong to the association Consumers who want their names removed from telemarketing lists should write to Operation Integrity TPS co Canadian Direct Marketing I Concorde Gate Ste Don Mills Ontario M3C 3N6 Those who want to be taken off lists for specific types of com panies are advised to write the firms directly CDMA members must remove consumers from their lists upon request Anyone wishing to receive in formation on a variety of con sumer Issues should contact the Consumer Information Centre Ministry of Consumer and Com mercial Relations Yonge St 1st fl Toronto Ontario M7A 2H8