{September 19, 2005} VICTORIA, BC – Telemarketers will require licences to operate in British Columbia as of October 1, 2005. The Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority (BPCPA) is reminding businesses that they should apply for licences as soon as possible.

The recently introduced Telemarketer Licensing Regulation requires the licensing of all telemarketing businesses who initiate contact with consumers in British Columbia for the purpose of entering into a distance sales contract over the phone or by fax, as well as third party fund raisers who solicit donations from BC consumers. This includes telemarketers who are either located in British Columbia or contact consumers in British Columbia.

The regulation is administered by the BPCPA, an independent organization responsible for business practices and consumer protection in BC.

The BPCPA is now accepting applications for telemarketer licences. The application package may be obtained from the BPCPA website. Telemarketers must complete application forms and remit fees to the BPCPA before October 1, 2005 in order to obtain licences.

The names of licensees will be posted to the BPCPA website so that consumers can confirm whether the companies calling them are licensed.

The purpose of the regulation is to address telemarketing fraud and nuisance calls. For example, the regulation restricts the times that licensees can contact consumers to weekdays between 9 am and 9:30 pm and weekends between 10 am and 6 pm. No calls will be permitted on statutory holidays.

For additional information about the regulation of telemarketers, please see these Frequently Asked Questions.