Phone Sales Calls: Some Callers Try to Break New Rules
Listen to the story
In France, there is a new law about phone calls from companies. Many companies cannot call people to sell things anymore. This is called cold calling. The law wants to stop this.
But some companies do not follow the new rule. They still call people. They try to find new ways around the law. This is called finding a loophole.
People can look at the phone number. Some numbers start with special numbers. These numbers often mean a company is calling to sell something.
If you see one of these numbers, you can block the call. This stops the number from calling you again.
Experts say people must be careful. Not every company follows the new law. You should always check who is calling you.
There are also ways to report bad calls. You can tell the government about companies that break the rule.
Vocabulary15 words
- cold calling
- calling people you do not know to sell something
- rule
- something you must follow; a law
- loophole
- a small way to avoid following a rule
- block
- to stop something from reaching you
- report
- to tell someone in charge about a problem
- law
- an official rule from the government
- company
- a business that sells things
- number
- the digits that make up a phone number
- call
- to phone someone
- sell
- to give something for money
- careful
- paying close attention
- government
- the people who run the country
- stop
- to make something not happen
- follow
- to do what a rule says
- protect
- to keep safe
Quiz
Answer key
1. Stopping phone calls that sell things 2. They try to find ways around the law 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
In France, there is a new law about phone _____ from companies.
Many companies cannot call people to _____ things anymore.
This is called _____ calling.
But some companies do not follow the new _____.
They try to find new ways around the law. This is called finding a _____.
Some numbers start with special _____.
If you see one of these numbers, you can _____ the call.
You should always check who is _____ you.
There are also ways to _____ bad calls.
You can tell the _____ about companies that break the rule.