TRAI Cautioned Banks and Financial Institutions against Use of Unregistered Telemarketers

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on 23 September 2013 warned all the banks as well as financial institutions of India against the unregistered telemarketers. TRAI cautioned against use of unregistered Telemarketers for promoting their business in violation of provisions of The Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2010.

TRAI explained that despite various actions taken by it, a huge number of complaints from consumers against banks, insurance companies, builders, etc. for making calls and SMSs organised through unregistered telemarketers was continuing.

TRAI explained that this activity was violating the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2010. The Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2010 provides that in case complaints continue to come in, then on receipt of the 3rd complaint, all the telecom resources of the entity or organisation should be disconnected.

TRAI, in the meanwhile, also declared the names of such banks and financial institutions which were flouting the regulation by marketing their products and services through unregistered telemarketers. These banks and financial institutions included Axis Bank, Citi Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra, PNB and SBI.

All these banks and financial institutions were directed by TRAI to look into the specific cases of breach, initiate corrective action and report back to TRAI within a period of seven days. Failure to do so will fetch a punishment according to which the banks will be liable to have all their telecom resources disconnected throughout the country.