Unwanted Sales Calls Continue Despite Ban
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A law in France bans companies from making unwanted sales calls, but many people say these calls have not stopped. One person described being contacted repeatedly, saying, "They harassed me for days and days."
The rule is meant to stop cold calling, which happens when a company calls someone without permission to sell a product or service. Despite the ban, people keep receiving these calls, and they want to know why.
One reason is that not every company follows the rules. Some businesses continue calling people even though it is against the law. Others operate from abroad, which makes it harder for French authorities to control them.
Checking whether companies follow the law is also difficult. There are millions of calls made every day, and the authorities do not have enough resources to monitor all of them. This means many companies that break the rule are never caught.
People affected by these calls often feel frustrated, especially when they receive several calls a day from unknown numbers. Some say the calls happen so often that it affects their daily life.
Experts believe the system needs stronger enforcement. This means punishing companies that break the law more severely, so they have a real reason to stop. Right now, many believe the penalties are too weak to change company behaviour.
Until the law becomes more effective, people are advised to protect themselves. They can use call-blocking apps, register on official do-not-call lists, or ask their phone provider for help filtering unwanted calls.
Many hope that future changes to the law will finally reduce the number of unwanted calls people receive each day.
Vocabulary11 words
- cold calling
- calling someone you do not know to sell something
- ban
- an official rule that stops something
- harass
- to bother someone again and again
- authorities
- government groups that make sure rules are followed
- monitor
- to watch something carefully
- enforcement
- making sure people follow a rule
- penalty
- a punishment, often money, for breaking a rule
- frustrated
- feeling annoyed because something is not working
- resources
- money, people, or tools needed to do something
- do-not-call list
- a list that stops companies from calling you
- provider
- a company that gives you a service, like phone service
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Quiz
Answer key
1. A ban on cold calling exists but is not stopping the calls 2. Authorities do not have enough resources for the huge number of calls 3. Stronger enforcement and bigger penalties
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
A law in France _____ companies from making unwanted sales calls.
One person described being contacted repeatedly, saying, "They _____ me for days and days."
The rule is meant to stop _____, which happens when a company calls someone without permission.
Some businesses continue calling people even though it is against the _____.
Others operate from _____, which makes it harder for French authorities to control them.
There are millions of calls made every day, and the authorities do not have enough _____ to monitor all of them.
Experts believe the system needs stronger _____.
Right now, many believe the _____ are too weak to change company behaviour.
People can use call-blocking apps or register on official _____ lists.
Many hope that future changes to the law will finally _____ the number of unwanted calls.
Discussion questions
- Have you ever received unwanted sales calls? How did you react?
- Why do you think some companies ignore laws against cold calling?
- What punishments do you think would stop companies from breaking this law?
- Do you think call-blocking apps are a good solution? Why or why not?
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