- Promotion and Practices
Promotion and Practices
LABELLING AND ADVERTISING
Bell Canada is a member of Advertising Standards Canada and follows the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards. Complaints about our advertising are registered with the association and posted on their website.
All our advertisements are reviewed by Bell's branding and legal teams. Bell's product packaging is reviewed by our Legal department to ensure it meets consumer laws and is structurally sufficient for the required size and weight of the product.
CLARITY OF CHARGES AND TARIFFS
We prepare tariffs intended to clearly identify charges which are in compliance with regulatory requirements. Our Regulatory Affairs department has a "tariff telephone line" to answer consumer inquiries about our tariffs.
TELEMARKETING
Bell Canada's Direct Marketing Centre follows CRTC-imposed restrictions on telemarketers which include the maintenance of our own company-wide Do Not Call (DNC) list to protect consumer privacy. Our Residential marketing and Small and Medium Business Enterprise groups follow the list of exclusions during campaigns to ensure customers who have asked to be excluded or who Bell cannot contact for numerous reasons are excluded from campaign activity.
The DNC list remains in effect for three years. After the three-year period, we contact the customer and offer the option of remaining on the list or not. Our campaign marketing lists are also cross-referenced with the Canadian Marketing Association's (CMA) DNC list for all new customer activity.
In addition to the CRTC's mandatory restrictions, Bell's telemarketing activities adhere to CMA industry standards and codes which include respecting restricted calling hours, limiting the number of times we contact a consumer within a particular time period, and call monitoring or observation in accordance with federal and/or provincial regulations.
In 2007, in accordance with new mandatory CRTC regulations and legislation, Bell will adopt a Do Not Contact list for new customers. In addition, we will continue to maintain restrictions pertaining to existing customers who do not wish to receive text message marketing, e-mails, bill-inserts, marketing of other affiliates' products, etc.
