The law protects citizens: phone calls from companies are permitted only under certain conditions, but generally prohibited
The phone rings and instead of the favorite friend logs a strange voice that you as a customer for an insurance policy, a phone service, an investment gain or even for the purchase of home ownership wants. Most callers are bold, can be difficult to get rid of and have all sorts of tricks on the way to the called party to accept a representative visit to coerce or to him / her "necessity" even a contract. Even large companies such as Allianz and German Telekom able to use these marketing methods, as evident with respect to the business benefits of cold calls from the occasional fine imposed are negligible (see Financial review 12/2006).
also in contact with our customers from the COM concept we learn again and again that this family property developers, provided they fit in the target group and have even left their phone numbers, are nonstop from hotlines and terrorized by phone dialers.
Many citizens are so irritated by these uninvited calls. Because the apartment belongs to privacy, which may not easily penetrate, even by telephone. In accordance with the Law against Unfair Competition explains these calls as "unacceptable harassment '(§ 7). The law is intended to help protect companies from frivolous serious competition, but also sell the black sheep, over-priced products to customers or persuade them to reveal personal data, to put a stop to.
calls from companies you are at home only under certain conditions allowed, but usually prohibited.
Allowed telephone advertising
- if express consent of the called party is present, the call is legal. This is for instance the case if you have even asked for a phone contact.
- calls that are purely for customer service, are allowed. If, for example, customer satisfaction obtained after an interview, or to determine whether a visit actually took place, may be called.
Forbidden calls
- If the consent was not obtained properly the calls are not allowed. Thus, for example, clauses in loan contracts or by phone, by which the customer, with future marketing calls to agree to ineffective.
- It is not enough to ask the person called at the beginning of the conversation, whether they agree with a telephone is. Prior to the call before any consent, the call remains inadmissible.
- calls that are used after the termination of a contract, the recovery of the customers (so-called Nachfasswerbung) are prohibited.
What can you do?
placing
Do not hesitate, simply hang up. It does not protect against further calls, but spared lengthy explanations and arguments with pushy advertisers.
ads you want to make a nuisance of unwanted calls to display, record It is best to date, time and name of the requesting company and the caller.
In this case, you should have sent information to facilitate the identification of the originator of the calls.
watching
Read the conclusion of contracts, the fine print. If you are required to sign to agree to marketing calls (Call for product information) agree, please delete these rates before the signature. Caution when participating in sweepstakes, enter as possible to any phone numbers! Never contracts on the phone.
more information
Financial Test Issue 12/2006. Special issue as a PDF:
http://www.test.de/themen/steuern-recht/meldung/Verbotene-Telefonwerbung-Illegaler-Kundenfang-1447432-1447123/
law against unfair competition (in particular, § 7)
http://www. gesetze-im-internet.de/bundesrecht/uwg_2004/gesamt.pdf
