Romain Rouillard 6:43 p.m., January 3, 2023

Since January 1, 2023, telephone canvassers have been required to use certain very specific telephone numbers and can no longer attempt to reach potential customers via an 06 or 07. A measure aimed at better regulating these canvassing and protecting users of observed abuses.

"Sorry, I'm not interested. Thank you, bye".

In 2022, thousands of French people regularly said these few words when speaking to a telephone marketer wishing to sell a product or service.

Sometimes insistent, these commercial platforms could try to reach you several times a day, including via a mobile phone number starting with 06 or 07. Practices bordering on harassment that should soon be a thing of the past.

Since January 1, 2023, direct sellers have been required to use certain specific numbers beginning with 0162, 0163, 0270, 0271, 0377, 0378, 0424, 0425, 0568, 0569, 0948 or 0949. new numbering plan established by Arcep, the telecoms regulatory authority.

This makes it easy to spot unwanted phone calls.

In addition, these platforms will be prohibited from using an 06 or an 07 to contact you.

If abuses are observed, it will be possible to report them on the signal.gouv.fr platform. 

No more than four calls per month 

Initially, the executive had announced that only the numbers ranging from 09 37 to 09 39 were reserved for canvassers before reviewing its copy on Tuesday.

These numbers may, however, be requested for “the sending of messages from a commercial brand to its customers, or for special connections”, specifies the government.

Concretely, this concerns VTC drivers, parcel deliverers or appointment reminders. 

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Another major change: professionals will have to respect certain time slots.

Thus, from March 1, canvassing operations must take place from Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Repetitive phone calls will also be prohibited since a canvasser cannot try to reach you more than four times a month.  

No more canvassing for CPF accounts

Finally, the government wanted to tackle the numerous abuses noted, with regard to the famous professional training account (CPF).

Since 2019, this system has enabled employees to follow various training courses by operating an individual account funded by company contributions.

However, some scammers, using phishing techniques or untimely canvassing by SMS or on social networks, succeeded in registering beneficiaries for fictitious training courses in order to extract money from them.

From now on, this kind of commercial prospecting linked to CPF accounts is quite simply prohibited, in application of a law adopted during the course of last year.