514-BILLETS gets billed by the CRTC for CASL violations

According to a recent Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) press release, on May 1, 2018, the CRTC announced that 514-BILLETS, comprised of the companies 9118-9076 Quebec Inc. and 9310-6359 Quebec Inc., jointly and severally agreed to pay $100,000 pursuant to an undertaking to resolve alleged anti-spam violations. This investigation and settlement is the first application of Canada’s anti-spam law (CASL) regarding unsolicited commercial electronic messages (CEMs) sent to mobile phones.
An investigation launched by the CRTC’s Chief Compliance and Enforcement Officer alleged that the companies whose main business activity is ticket resale for sporting and cultural events, failed to comply with various requirements of the legislation between July 2014 and January 2016. During this period, the company allegedly sent text messages without the recipient’s consent, without information identifying the person who sent the messages, and without information enabling the recipient to readily contact the sender.
The $100,000 undertaking consists of $75,000 in the form of $10 rebate coupons offered to 7,500 clients and $25,000 to the Receiver General for Canada.
In addition, to ensure that their future activities are fully compliant with Canada’s anti-spam legislation, the companies will put in place a compliance program and appoint an officer responsible for organizational compliance.
This undertaking reminds organizations that CASL applies to any form of CEM, even text messages, used to promote products and services, and that the CRTC is actively monitoring and responding to complaints involving different types of CEMs.
Want to know more about how to put in place a compliance program that complies with CASL, consult the Operations & Marketing –
Sales and Marketing section in Finance and Accounting PolicyPro.

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Marie-Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor

Managing Editor at First Reference Inc.

Marie-Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B., is a trained lawyer called to the Quebec bar in 1988 and is still a member in good standing. She practiced business, employment and labour law until 1999. For over 20 years, Yosie has been the Managing Editor at First Reference. She manages the PolicyPro Human Resources and Internal Controls editions, The Human Resources Advisor editions, PaySource and the HRinfodesk news service as well as the blogs. Marie-Yosie (a.k.a. Yosie) is a recognized and respected author, with an extensive background in human resources, employment and labour across the country.

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