Dutch gov't to ban telemarketing

State Secretary Mona Keijzer of Economic Affairs and Climate plans to put an end to annoying phone calls from companies that want to sell you things or services. She is working on a ban on telemarketing, Keijzer said in the Consumer Agenda, which she sent to parliament on Monday, RTL Nieuws reports.

Under this ban, companies and organizations will only be allowed to phone consumers if they have explicitly given their consent. Currently businesses can call consumers unless the consumer indicated that they don't want to be contacted in the so-called Bel-Me-Niet [Don't call me] register.

"The Ministry regularly receives complaints about telemarketing by companies and organizations", Keijzer said in the Consumer Agenda.