News

A warm welcome to Professor Patrick De Pelsmacker and Professor Sophie Pochet to our board!

Two experts in consumer protection who are committed to promoting a fairer and more respectful approach to direct marketing. With their expertise in marketing, communication, and ethics, they strengthen the team behind the Do Not Call Me list. 🚀

The Do Not Call Me list provides clear and effective protection against unwanted commercial calls.

But a new legislative proposal aims to put an end to this centralized approach. What does this mean for companies, contact centers and outbound communication? And more importantly: what does it mean for the consumer?

In this first episode, Burt Riské joins the table to share his insights on what this change could mean for the sector.

In this episode, Greet Dekocker from Becom.digital explains why, in her view, abolishing the Do Not Call Me list is a step in the wrong direction.
The new legislative proposal aims to replace the centralized opt-out system with an opt-in model – potentially leading to significant consequences, not only for the entire sector but also for the consumer.

« The current opt-out system provides clear and effective protection against unwanted commercial calls. On one hand, there is a central registry
of numbers that cannot be called and on the other hand, we also know which companies have a licence and comply with the law.
This is a very transparent way of working that allows for monitoring and sanctioning companies if necessary. »

In this third episode, Jean Francois Letraublon sums up the evolution of the telemarketing sector in recent years in one word: professionalisation.
« A professionalisation made possible by laws and regulations, and of course
by this list. »

Contact centers still often carry a negative connotation, while in reality they are valuable workplaces. The sector has evolved in recent years and has become more professional. People with fewer opportunities on the traditional job market receive full training here: they acquire a broad set of skills and gain their first work experience. As such, the contact center often serves as a stepping stone to other sectors.
The abolition of the Do Not Call Me list would therefore have a very negative impact on employment.

Sophie Pochet explains why she believes that abandoning the opt-in system is not a good idea.

« It's true that at first glance, everyone thinks of these calls as something very annoying. Yet they are entirely legitimate in a number of sectors. I'm thinking of energy and telecoms, where they help challenge offers in a market that is barely competitive. In fact, the opt-out system should remain in place, but it clearly requires effort. That’s the role of the Do Not Call Me non-profit, alongside the Federal Public Service Economy, which is responsible for monitoring and sanctioning violations. »