Decree No. 2022-1313 of October 13, published in the Official Journal, will come into force on March 1, according to the website of the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty. The purpose of this decree? Protect the privacy of consumers and curb abusive telephone canvassing, while preserving the jobs of employees of French telephone exchanges.

In addition to these new terms, the most effective way to protect yourself against cold calling remains the registration of your number on the BLOCTEL lists. Professionals are indeed obliged by law to check that you are not on these lists before calling you, except in the case where this call concerns a pre-existing contract.

From March 1, 2023, cold calling will only be authorized on weekdays, during strict and predefined time slots: from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. It will also be prohibited during public holidays.

These rules will apply to both registrants and non-registrants on the BLOCTEL canvassing opposition list. However, the decree obviously does not apply to consumers who have given their explicit consent to be called.

The frequency of calls will also be more regulated: it will be limited, for the same professional, to 4 times per 30 calendar days. In addition, if during the conversation with the direct seller, you refuse to be called, your interlocutor, and those for whom he works, will not have the right to contact you again before 60 full days after the call, except in the event that it is about one of your pre-existing contracts of course.

The fines provided for in the event of violation of these rules amount to 75,000 euros for a natural person and 375,000 for a legal person, so remember to report abusive telephone canvassing if you are a victim.