Indian government warns banks not to use unregistered telemarketers

Is receiving a large number of complaints from consumers.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India warns banks and financial institutions that the use of unregistered telemarketers for promoting their business violates government regulations. TRAI said it continues to receive a large number of complaints from consumers against banks and insurance companies who have received fo calls or SMS organized through unregistered telemarketers. Indian law provides that in case complaints continue to come in, then on receipt of the third complaint, all the telecom resources of the organization will be disconnected.

TRAI identified some of the violators as Axis Bank; Citi Bank; HDFC Bank; ICICI Bank; Kotak Mahindra; PNB and SBI. These banks have been directed to initiate corrective action and report back to TRAI within a period of seven days. Failure to do so will mean the banks are liable to have all their telecom resources disconnected throughout the country.