How to protect yourself from unwanted telephone advertising and fake contracts

How to protect yourself from unwanted telephone advertising and fake contracts

According to a report by www.westfalen-blatt.de, advertising calls are prohibited by law without prior express consent. Nevertheless, there is an increasing number of complaints from consumers about unauthorized calls, which are often not only annoying but also lead to unwanted contracts and financial damage. The legal regulations have been tightened, but many contracts concluded over the telephone are still valid. The crime prevention department of the Höxter district police authority and the consumer advice center give tips on how to protect yourself from unwanted telephone advertising and fake contracts.

Minimize unwanted calls

According to a study, unwanted advertising calls cannot be completely avoided, but there are measures to minimize their frequency. By only providing their phone number when absolutely necessary and specifically opposing the use of their data for advertising purposes, consumers can reduce the number of unwanted calls.

Avoid signing contracts over the phone

It is recommended not to respond to calls from supposed providers and instead to call back the known customer hotline to check the authenticity of the call. In addition, those called should be careful when asking questions like “Can you hear me?” to prevent unwanted contract conclusions.

Legal action in the event of unwanted contracts

For contracts that were concluded over the phone and are subsequently regretted, you have the option of revoking them within 14 days. The North Rhine-Westphalia consumer advice center provides a sample letter for this purpose, and those affected should immediately contact the consumer advice center or the Federal Network Agency to report unwanted calls.

Conclusion

Although there are legal regulations against unsolicited telephone advertising, many consumers continue to be affected by illegal calls. However, through targeted measures such as restricting the sharing of personal data and carefully screening calls, consumers can protect themselves from unwanted contracts being concluded over the phone.