Unwanted calls and messages will no longer be a bother to you, thanks to new rules issued by the telecom regulator, TRAI, on Wednesday.
The new regulations include fines ranging from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 10 lakh for companies that fail to properly disclose the number of unwanted calls.
TRAI has also ordered telecom operators to analyze call and SMS patterns, looking for signs such as an unusually high number of calls, short call durations,
and an imbalance in the ratio of incoming to outgoing calls. This will help identify potential spammers in real-time.
Penalty Procedures for Telecom Companies
Telecom companies that provide incorrect information about Unsolicited Commercial Communication (UCC) will face fines.
The fine for providing wrong information for the first time will be Rs 2 lakh. For the second offense, the fine increases to Rs 5 lakh.
After that, a fine of Rs 10 lakh will be imposed for each further mistake.
Additionally, fines will also apply for other mistakes, such as wrongly closing complaints or negligence in registering message headers and content templates.
New DND App and Customer Protection
TRAI has also launched a new Do Not Disturb (DND) app. This app allows you to block harassing messages, file complaints, and track the progress of your complaints.
The regulator has updated the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR) to make it easier for customers to report UCC without registering their preferences first.
Previously, customers had to register their choice to block or receive commercial communications, but now they can simply file complaints without needing to do so.
Exclusions and Action Timelines
It’s important to note that these rules apply only to calls and messages from telecom networks.
Calls and messages from OTT apps like WhatsApp are not covered by these regulations.
Under the new rules, customers now have 7 days (instead of the previous 3) to file complaints about UCC.
Telecom companies are also required to take action within 5 days (instead of the previous 30 days) on complaints related to UCC from unregistered numbers.
