You can now tell telemarkers to get lost officially in South Africa
“South Africans can register blocks against direct marketers on the government’s new National Opt-Out Registry now – not from May 2027, as the National Consumer Commission’s (NCC’s) own [launch statement](
https://thencc.org.za/ncc-launches-the-national-opt-out-registry-to-curb-unwanted-direct-marketing/) indicated – the commission has told TechCentral. But a block won’t stop the calls straight away.”
Is it a good sign that this actually went live earlier than expected for consumers? I hope so, and I've already registered today. There was a previous opt-out register, but that was never really very effective, but it does look like this one is being done properly now, and with the teeth to enforce it.
I'd like to see those reporting spammers, getting a share of those big fines, as in incentive to report. So often the effort is put on consumers to do all the reporting, and yet they get no benefit from the inconvenience they have experienced. But government pockets the fine money.
Let us just hope that our registration info on the portal does not get hacked as that includes full names, address, contact details, and a copy of the citizen ID document.
See
How to tell telemarketers to get lost - officially
SA's National Opt-Out Registry is open: here's how to block direct marketers now, what it costs them and why the calls won't stop straight away.
#technology #southafrica #telemarketers
