Unsolicited telemarketers in the Czech Republic, commonly referred to as “telešmejdi,” appear to be on the decline following the issuance of substantial fines by the Czech Telecommunication Office (ČTÚ) in the summer. Recent data from the ČTÚ indirectly indicates a noticeable decrease in complaints related to unsolicited calls and telemarketing.

Over the last few months, the number of complaints about marketing calls recorded by the ČTÚ has seen a significant drop. These complaints reached their peak at the end of the previous year and have since been steadily decreasing. In September, the monthly decrease was more than 30 percent, as disclosed by Tereza Meravá, the spokesperson for the ČTÚ.

While the exact reasons for this decrease are not entirely clear, the imposition of substantial fines by the ČTÚ during the summer is considered a likely contributing factor. One of the fines, totaling 2.2 million Czech Koruna (CZK), became enforceable in September. It was imposed on the Polish company Asmanta Call Center Spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością for making over 100 unsolicited calls related to photovoltaic offers.

The company not only called individuals without their consent but also violated the law on electronic communications by using an automatic calling system without human participation for a significant portion of these unsolicited calls, as specified by Meravá. Furthermore, she noted that unsolicited calls promoting financial services have gained prominence in recent months, supplanting photovoltaic-related calls.

The amendment to the law on electronic communications, which includes a ban on unsolicited calls and telemarketing, has been in effect since January 1, 2022, but it definitively entered into practice six months later. This grace period allowed companies to adapt to the new rules. The declining number of complaints indicates that these measures are having a positive impact on curbing unsolicited telemarketing, offering relief to consumers who had long been plagued by unwanted marketing calls in the Czech Republic.

Article by Prague Forum