The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is employing constructive efforts to combat the recurring mobile SMS spam problem. According to the new guidelines laid down by TRAI, telemarketers will have to cross-check their database of mobile phone numbers with the National Consumer Preference Registry (NCPR) twice a week. The mandate has been levied even for mobile operators to perform second-level checks for ensuring that their mobile subscribers aren’t receiving SMS spam.
To aid that, SMS GupShup has developed an application — Scrubber, for large and small telecom operators to scrub mobile as well as landline numbers. The App will be able to classify numbers according to the new TRAI guidelines and will make the tedious process of cross-checking data with NCPR easier.
In case you are not aware, anyone can register his/her mobile number with the National Consumer Preference Registry for the Do Not Call. Here is the link to a guide to register your preferences on receiving commercial communications (promotional SMSs or calls).
How to register for Do Not Call/Disturb
For starters you can either call or send an SMS to 1909, which is a toll free number.Those who wish to call 1909 and register will have to choose between either an interactive voice response system or a customer care executive.
Further, mobile subscribers have to choose between full blocked category (No calls or SMS) or partially blocked category (No calls but SMSs on selected subjects). For the partially blocked category mobile subscribers can choose to receive communications related to banking, insurance, financial products, real estate, education, health, consumer goods , automobiles, communication, broadcasting, entertainment, IT, tourism and leisure.
After you complete the registration process the mobile service provider will send you a confirmation SMS with a unique registration number. You are required to save that number for future reference.
How to file a complaint
Complaints against a telemarketer can be filed only after successful registration with the NCPR. There are two requirements to be met before filing a complaint. The first is that the complaint needs to be registered within three days (72 hours) from the time that unsolicited SMSs/calls are received. Secondly, the complaint must be filed using the number on which the unsolicited SMS/call was received.
Complaints against a spamming telemarketer can be registered by calling the toll free number 1909 or by sending an SMS to 1909.
Those who wish to register a complaint through SMS should send: COMP
Here XXXXXXXXXX stands for the number from which the SMS was received or the header of the SMS.
Alternatively, you can call 1909 and either go through the IVRS system or talk with a customer care executive for registering your complaint.
On successfully registering a complaint the registrant will receive an SMS with a unique complaint number.
At any point of time, if you want to de-register or change your options then too you can call 1909 and follow the necessary procedure.
Do note that telemarketers aren’t eligible to market their products between 9:00 PM to 9:00 AM. Any telemarketer violating these terms can be de-registered based on the complaint of a mobile consumer.