Swedish Consumer Agency Proposes Total Ban on Telemarketing

The Swedish Consumer Agency has proposed a complete ban on telemarketing, reports Sveriges Radio Ekot. "The business method is problematic in its fundamental structure," says Director General Cecilia Tisell.

The agency presents the proposed ban in the report: "Telemarketing – an unwanted, inappropriate, and deeply problematic business method." The proposal follows a government mandate to strengthen consumer protection.

"The conditions for absorbing information and considering one's needs are inadequate, regardless of whether the regulations are followed or not," says Cecilia Tisell, Consumer Ombudsman and Director General, in a press release.

If not banned, the agency alternatively suggests a system to replace the current Nix-register, where consumers can register to avoid sales calls. Instead, sales calls would only be allowed to consumers who have explicitly stated they wish to be contacted.

"Unfortunate"

According to the Consumer Agency, six out of ten people do not answer calls from unknown numbers to avoid salespeople. This has consequences, according to Cecilia Tisell.

"Our survey shows that people miss important calls from, for example, healthcare and the police. This is unfortunate for individuals and causes significant extra work for various societal actors," says Cecilia Tisell.

The government tasked the Consumer Agency in May with stopping misleading and aggressive telemarketing practices. This follows criticism of the Social Democrats' lottery operations, which were exposed for using unethical telemarketing methods.