The Do Not Call (DNC) provisions of the PDPA generally prohibits organisations from sending marketing messages to Singapore telephone numbers listed in the DNC Registry. This includes mobile, fixed-line, residential and business numbers.

The marketing messages covered under DNC provisions include voice calls, text or fax messages, for the purposes of:

• Offering to supply, advertise or promote goods or services;
• Advertising/promoting suppliers or prospective suppliers of goods or services; or
• Supplying/advertising/promoting land, interests in land or business/investment opportunities.

Whether your organisation is directly sending such marketing messages, causing the message to be sent or authorising another organisation to do so, you have to ensure that such messages are not sent to Singapore telephone numbers registered with the DNC Registry.

For more information on the DNC provisions, please refer to the Advisory Guidelines on the Do Not Call Provisions. To find out the steps on using the services of the DNC Registry, visit the DNC Registry Business Rules page.

Sending Marketing Messages to Singapore Telephone Numbers

Your organisation has to:

• Provide information on how individuals can opt out of such messages using the same medium by which the message is sent. Upon receiving an opt-out request, you have 21 days to ensure that marketing messages are no longer sent to the individual’s telephone number.
• Clearly identify your organisation and provide contact details if you are sending a text or fax message. This allows the recipient to contact you for clarifications, if necessary.
• Ensure that the caller’s identity is not concealed if you are making a voice call.

Exceptions

You do not need to check the DNC Registry if your organisation has the recipient’s clear and unambiguous consent to send marketing messages to the Singapore telephone number.

Additionally, you may send:

• Voice calls, text or fax messages about products, services and memberships that are relevant to individuals with whom your organisation has an ongoing relationship (note: a series of one-off transactions does not constitute an ongoing relationship);
• Service calls or reminder messages regarding services bought by the individual;
• Messages as part of a market survey or research;
• Messages relating to charitable or religious causes; or
• Messages targeting businesses (i.e. B2B) and not individuals.

Use of Third-Party Checkers

Please note that the PDPC does not endorse any third-party checkers offering checking facilities and/or other services related to the DNC Registry.

Third-party checkers should be aware that the liability is on the third-party checkers for DNC infringements resulting from erroneous information. They will need to ensure the data that they provide to other organisations is accurate, including the date they received the results and its expiry.