BK
Bertha K

1 reviews | Active since Jun 2011

20 Jan 2023, 13:29

Direct Marketing and POPI Act Violation

This company is breaking all the POPI act laws in South Africa and no one seems to care. When the regulations came in to place, I assumed - no more marketing calls. But there doesn't seem to be a different from before to after the regulations were implemented.

Companies are still calling you day and night. Companies I do not even know, hence I did not give them permission to call me for marketing purposes. I always ask, how did you get my number? They will say - from "Direct Marketing Database". Who gives this organisation the right to just collect people's personal information and contact details, where is their privacy policy, where is the collection point?

Upon further research, I find that there is another database they manage called the "opt-out" list. They say, you must complete your details on this list to opt-out of being called for marketing. I say, the law is clear - before you call me, I need to opt-in first, not the other way round. You don't collect numbers and then make it my problem to opt-out. I cant search the whole internet to opt out of every list out there, someone needs to start looking at these companies. We know who they are, they are big corporates who just disregard the law and there are no consequences for it. By the way the marketing call today was Discovery, they are the biggest abusers of the POPI act, I do not even have a single discovery product, but I get calls from them all the time - its either car insurance, medical aid or some other product.

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Replies (1)
Direct Marketing Association Of South Africa
Direct Marketing Association Of South Africa's reply24 Jan 2023, 18:37
Official
Dear Bertha
 
Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. Direct Marketing Association of Southern Africa is a proactive leader in this vital, flourishing industry that contributes substantially to South Africa’s economy.
 
We are a member organisation and do not sell consumer details for any marketing purposes.
 
Kindly provide us with your cellphone number so that we can contact you so that you assist to log a formal complaint for investigation. Also use the private reply for me to see the details. We will investigate and provide you with feedback timeously.
 
 
Regards
Khulie Mdhluli| Complaints Department Manager 
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