Four air duct companies have paid a total of $55,000 as a settlement for violating Canada’s national “do not call” rules, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced Tuesday.
The CRTC launched a number of investigations into companies after receiving complaints from Canadians. The commission’s investigation determined that nine companies in the Greater Toronto Area made unsolicited telemarketing calls in violation of the CRTC’s rules.
The four companies that agreed to pay the penalty and stop making unsolicited calls are:
- Bridge Home Services Inc. – $6,000
- Cambridge Heating Services – $23,000
- HR Home Services – $3,000
- Top Line Air Duct Cleaning Inc. – $23,000
Five other companies were issued a notice of violation and, according to the CRTC, have 30 days to respond. Collectively, they face penalties totalling $94,000.
- Aqua Duct Cleaning Services – $9,000
- Goodlife Home Services Inc. – $16,000
- Kareem Duct Cleaning – $15,000
- N. Bro Transport Inc. – $14,000
- Toronto Breeze Air Duct Cleaning Services Inc. – $40,000
According to the CRTC, the companies used foreign call centres located in Pakistan, India and the United States.
The CRTC thanked officials in Karachi, Pakistan and the RCMP for assisting in the “lengthy and labour-intensive” investigations.
Earlier this month, the CRTC fined a Florida-based company $200,000 for breaking telemarketing rules. The company, Consolidated Travel Holdings Group Inc., agreed to stop making unsolicited telemarketing calls to Canadians, telling them they won a free cruise to the Bahamas.
The national do not call list was launched in 2008 and has more than 12.8 million numbers registered.
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