The story we published yesterday about telesales calls has resonated with the wider public as people from all walks of life related their experiences with what they referred to as harassment by telemarketing companies.
The complaints point to one fact: the law is failing to protect consumers from daily calls from these companies. In reality, the relevant legislation exists, what is lacking is proper application of laws such as Popia (Protection of Personal Information Act). The legislation is relatively new and not all consumers are privy to the types of protection it offers them.
It is clearly incumbent upon the authorities to increase public awareness about Popia and other channels individuals can use to protect themselves against incessant telesales calls. One such option is provided by the Direct Marketing Association of SA (DMASA), whose services Sowetan wrote about in a sidebar article published yesterday.
Though the DMASA was founded way back in 2005, public knowledge about the association's existence and what it does remains limited, and that needs to change. That change can be brought by an intended joint campaign by the government, private sector and other stakeholders in consumer affairs.
Sowetan, with its long-standing interest in consumer issues, is an interested party in this mission to help consumers with any type of useful information. It was also through our effort that Cartrack withdrew services of its telemarketing company after we brought the frustrations of consumers to the attention of the car-tracing firm.
To recap, anyone can register with DMASA to opt not to receive calls from telemarketing companies.
These companies employ mostly young people, and that fact cannot be sneered at for two reasons. First, they afford youth with opportunities to earn an income, and second, they expose the youth to a world of work opportunities across sectors. This is a big plus for a country with a hard-pressed job market, especially for youth.
However, despite the work opportunities the telemarketers provide, the privacy and personal choices of consumers cannot be undermined in the process.
The law is already there for the protection of consumer rights. Let it be applied without fear or favour.
SowetanLIVE
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