France introduces tough fines for unsolicited telemarketing calls

The law, approved by parliament last year and backed by President Emmanuel Macron's government, bans unsolicited telemarketing calls in a bid to strengthen consumer protection

While several countries have tried opt-out systems, France is hoping stricter mandatory opt-in rules will be more effective.

Previously in France, people who wanted to avoid marketing calls had to register their number with a government-run service, but consumer groups said some call centres ignored the list.

Now, “businesses are prohibited from contacting consumers without their prior consent”, said Alice Vilcot, chief of staff at the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Prevention of Fraud. “That consent can be withdrawn at any time.”

The government says the law is a response to years of consumer complaints. Authorities estimate that about three-quarters of people in France receive at least one unsolicited sales call every week, and many receive more.

In 2024, 11 consumer organisations issued a joint call for a ban, denouncing “relentless harassment of consumers through countless unwanted telemarketing calls to both landlines and mobile phones – an intrusion that has become a regular part of their daily lives.”

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Hefty fines

Individuals who make illegal calls can be fined up to €75,000 per call. Companies can face fines of up to €375,000 per call.

There are exceptions. Consumers may consent to receive marketing calls, for example by checking a consent box on a form. Companies can contact customers with new commercial offers if they already have a contractual relationship.

People can report unsolicited calls through a government website.

Vilcot noted that an Ireland-based company was fined €6 million last year for violating France's previous telemarketing rules by calling people on the no-call list.

France's new law has raised concerns in Morocco, where the minister of employment, Younes Sekkouri, told lawmakers up to 50,000 jobs were at risk in the country's call centres. Sekkouri said the industry has attracted around $100 million in investment and generates more than $1 billion in annual revenue in the country.

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Low labour costs, a large French-speaking workforce and relatively weak unions have made Morocco an attractive outsourcing destination for international companies, particularly French firms seeking to reduce costs.

Youssef Chraïbi, president of the Moroccan Federation for Outsourcing Services, told the local daily Le Matin that the French market has historically accounted for more than 80 percent of the industry's revenue.

“Pure telemarketing now represents only 15 percent to 20 percent of total activity,” Chraïbi said, adding that the sector has increasingly diversified beyond traditional call centre services.

Opt-out systems

Neighbouring Germany has had a similar ban since 2009.

The Netherlands tightened rules on telemarketing calls last month. The country had already banned unsolicited sales calls but now, companies are not allowed anymore to call their own customers with promotional offers without previous authorisation. 

Many other countries rely on opt-out systems.
In the United States, people can sign up for the national Do Not Call registry, which cuts down on unwanted sales calls, Canada has its own Do Not Call list, while the UK has the Telephone Preference Service.

In Britain, companies that call people who have opted out can be fined up to £500,000 – around €580,000 – per call.

(with France24, newswires)