20 April 2010
Bruce Harry Real Estate pays the price for illegal telemarketing
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has penalised Queensland real estate agency Bruce Harry Real Estate $6,600 for making three calls to numbers on the Do Not Call Register.
‘The ACMA has received complaints about 289 real estate businesses since the register began almost three years ago,’ said ACMA Chairman, Chris Chapman. ‘Real estate agents need to realise cold calls made to potential customers are telemarketing calls, and cannot be made to numbers on the register.
‘This penalty serves as a warning to others. It’s easy to check numbers against the register, so there really isn’t any excuse for bothering people who have registered.
‘What was particularly concerning about this case was that Bruce Harry Real Estate agents at Holland Park continued to call numbers on the Do Not Call Register even after the ACMA advised them to change their practices,’ Mr Chapman added. ‘The company also made a call on a Sunday, which is a breach of the Telemarketing Industry Standard.’
The ACMA has been running an education campaign to raise real estate agents’ awareness of the register and to encourage them to comply with the relevant legislation.
Do Not Call registrations last for three years and can be renewed at any time.
Anyone with registered numbers who receives telemarketing calls can complain by calling 1300 792 958 or visiting www.donotcall.gov.au .
‘If you can provide the ACMA with information such as the time of the call and who was calling, this will make it easier for us to investigate,’ Mr Chapman said.
For more information or to arrange an interview please contact: Donald Robertson, Media Manager, on (02) 9334 7980, 0418 86 1766 or media@acma.gov.au.
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The ACMA is Australia’s regulator for broadcasting, the internet, radiocommunications and telecommunications. The ACMA’s strategic intent is to make communications and media work in Australia’s public interest. For more information: www.acma.gov.au.
