is it legal to be cold called on a cellphone?

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › is it legal to be cold called on a cellphone?

PaulZA

314 posts

Ultimate Geek

#124673 15-Jul-2013 19:51

Might be mistaken, but my understanding was that it was illegal for people to cold call you, offering services to you on ones mobile, that's why over the years, up untill this year nobody has phoned my on my mobile to sell me anything ever.

This past week, I've had several missed calls from people. I did a google search on the number, and it shows up to someone calling from some marketing company.

How did they even get my number?

It was only given to me, not even 2 months ago, and I go to extraordinary lengths not to post it online, or give it out.

Thanks

1 | 2

3916 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#856087 15-Jul-2013 19:51

I see no reason why not?

Speedtest 2019-10-14

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79263 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#856088 15-Jul-2013 19:51

Not illegal and they probably call all numbers they can, not targeting your number specifically.

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#856103 15-Jul-2013 20:05

No law against cold calling a mobile number

Hammerer

2476 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#856105 15-Jul-2013 20:12

The Direct Marketing Association don't allow unsolicited TXTs but I've not heard that they have regulations against unsolicited mobile calls.

I'm usually cold called about once a year but that's miniscule compared to calls on my fixed line. I'd guess that there have been some significant reasons for this: cost of calls used to be much higher, few mobile numbers appear in phone directories, and it's usually a waste of time dealing with "under-16's" [edit to correct mistake] who hardly ever have a fixed line but often have a mobile.

I'd also guess that it is now one of the least effective methods for interacting with mobile phone users. Direct marketers can get better returns from interactive services that people will actually respond positively to: vouchers/coupons, TXT alerts, QR/bar code scanning, GPS/location-based ads/services, etc.

alasta

6703 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#856106 15-Jul-2013 20:13

I don't see why it would be allowed on fixed lines but not mobile phones.

I get unsolicited calls about once every month or two but ignoring call from blocked numbers deals with the problem.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79263 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#856111 15-Jul-2013 20:21

I use VFX and we have a rule in our account to reject incoming calls with blocked numbers.

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#856119 15-Jul-2013 20:34

The reason you don't very oftereceive them is that it is much more expensive to call a mobile than a fixed line.

Wise

Send money globally for less with Wise - one free transfer up to NZ$900 (affiliate link).

kingjj

1728 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#856143 15-Jul-2013 21:20

freitasm: I use VFX and we have a rule in our account to reject incoming calls with blocked numbers.

Great for avoiding marketing calls, not so good for legitimate users who use blocked numbers. One such user is the NZ Police. There phone system's outgoing is blocked and not easily circumvented to show caller id. You don't need to be actively dealing with the police for them to call you. Likewise I'm sure other government organizations use similar systems. Just a thought.

mattwnz

20147 posts

Uber Geek

#856145 15-Jul-2013 21:23

Why would cold calling a mobile be illegal, over cold calling a landline? The reason you were most likely not called, is because it costs the caller, while landline calls are free. I would like to see cold calling illegal, but then again many businesses get business that way, so they would protest. Also it won't stop the indian scammer calls, and they shouldn't be treated better than NZ cold callers.

sen8or

1789 posts

Uber Geek

#856147 15-Jul-2013 21:33

There is the "anti spam act" (not actual name, but conveys the meaning) whereby companies have to abide by a set of rules in regards to unsolicited electronic communications (texts and / or email) but for actual voice calls? pretty unlikely.

CYaBro

4583 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#856151 15-Jul-2013 21:52

kingjj:
freitasm: I use VFX and we have a rule in our account to reject incoming calls with blocked numbers.

Great for avoiding marketing calls, not so good for legitimate users who use blocked numbers. One such user is the NZ Police. There phone system's outgoing is blocked and not easily circumvented to show caller id. You don't need to be actively dealing with the police for them to call you. Likewise I'm sure other government organizations use similar systems. Just a thought.

I too ignore calls to my cellphone from blocked numbers, from international numbers or from weird formatted numbers like 0000 or 22100 etc , which I've had lot of lately.
If it is important they can leave a message. :)

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

coffeebaron

6231 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#856159 15-Jul-2013 22:06

CYaBro:
kingjj:
freitasm: I use VFX and we have a rule in our account to reject incoming calls with blocked numbers.

Great for avoiding marketing calls, not so good for legitimate users who use blocked numbers. One such user is the NZ Police. There phone system's outgoing is blocked and not easily circumvented to show caller id. You don't need to be actively dealing with the police for them to call you. Likewise I'm sure other government organizations use similar systems. Just a thought.

I too ignore calls to my cellphone from blocked numbers, from international numbers or from weird formatted numbers like 0000 or 22100 etc , which I've had lot of lately.
If it is important they can leave a message. :)

double ditto, though on my VFX line blocked numbers actually get diverted straight to voicemail, rather than being rejected; so they can leave a message if important.

Rural IT and Broadband support.

Broadband troubleshooting and master filter installs.
Starlink installer - one month free: https://www.starlink.com/?referral=RC-32845-88860-71
Wi-Fi and networking
Cel-Fi supply and installer - boost your mobile phone coverage legally

Need help in Auckland, Waikato or BoP? Click my email button, or email me direct: [my user name] at geekzonemail dot com

blakamin

4431 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#856164 15-Jul-2013 22:22

kingjj:
freitasm: I use VFX and we have a rule in our account to reject incoming calls with blocked numbers.

Great for avoiding marketing calls, not so good for legitimate users who use blocked numbers. One such user is the NZ Police. There phone system's outgoing is blocked and not easily circumvented to show caller id. You don't need to be actively dealing with the police for them to call you. Likewise I'm sure other government organizations use similar systems. Just a thought.

I block them too... they go straight to voicemail... if they don't leave a message, too bad.

mattwnz

20147 posts

Uber Geek

#856166 15-Jul-2013 22:27

blakamin:
kingjj:
freitasm: I use VFX and we have a rule in our account to reject incoming calls with blocked numbers.

Great for avoiding marketing calls, not so good for legitimate users who use blocked numbers. One such user is the NZ Police. There phone system's outgoing is blocked and not easily circumvented to show caller id. You don't need to be actively dealing with the police for them to call you. Likewise I'm sure other government organizations use similar systems. Just a thought.

I block them too... they go straight to voicemail... if they don't leave a message, too bad.

Almost all of them are auto dialers, whiere a computer is ringing thousands of numbers. Then when someone answers it, it gets put on hold and then forwarded to a call centre worker. So there is never a person on teh other end to leave a message. This is why there is often quite a big delay before someone on the other end starts speaking. A telltale sign it is a scam call is when you answer and you have to say 'hello' multiple times before someone says anything. Cold calling from charities and survey companies are also annoying.

kingjj

1728 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#856181 15-Jul-2013 23:29

Plenty of illegitimate users drowning out the few legitimate ones I guess. Just keep that in mind next time someone moans about missing an important call from insert-government-agency-here because they ignored the blocked call.

1 | 2