No more "Opting-out of SMS" fees: FSB.
- Frederik Herholdt
- Jan 13, 2018
- 2 min read
We are all familiar with insurance marketing SMSs as we receive them at least once a week. To some users these SMSs are very annoying, but unfortunately opting out of these messages could result in a fee. Or at least up until recently. The Financial Services Board (FSB) has passed new rules which allow users to opt out, with no fees attached. The FSB has reviewed these "opting out charges" and decided to implement some changes to its Policyholder Protection Rules (PPRs). These changes will only come into effect later this year. These new revised rules and changes to PPRs specify that recipients of future insurance spam via call, SMS, or voice messages must be given the opportunity to opt out (when requested) of future direct marketing from the company in question without any charges or "opt-out of advertising" fees attached.
When will these rules take effect?
The financial Service Board said that these rules and regulations will only take effect on the 1st of July 2018, due to a six-month transitional period.
After rules take effect, users will not have to pay a opt-out fee for insurance spam SMSs. This applies to other electronic channels as well.
The board said: “The implication of the rule is that insurers may not charge policyholders any fee for demanding to opt out of receiving any advertisement through a telephone or mobile call, voice or text message, or other electronic communication,”
The PPRs were officially published in the Government Gazette no. 41329 on 15 December 2017.
To read this issue of the Government Gazette click here
How do we receive these SMSs without us giving consent to receiving them? The fact is that most - if not all - mobile service providers have fine print in their sign up contracts which give them consent towards selling your information to these marketers. This normally is done within the Protection of Personal Information act (POPIA) of South Africa.
Posted 13 January 2018 - Staff Writer
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