Criminal Charges Laid Against Montreal-Based Telemarketing Companies

OTTAWA, October 25, 2001 — The Competition Bureau announced today that an investigation into deceptive telemarketing activities aimed at Canadian businesses, government institutions, as well as religious, educational, and non-profit organizations, has led to seven criminal charges against telemarketing company Tamec Inc., and its subsidiaries Commercial Information Bank of Canada and Deev Inc.. The charges were laid in the Court of Quebec, Montreal.

The charges, laid under the misleading advertising and deceptive telemarketing provisions of the Competition Act, stem from a criminal investigation conducted by the Bureau. In March 2000, the Bureau conducted a search of the accused parties' premises with the assistance of the Montreal Urban Community Police Service.

The Bureau has received hundreds of complaints alleging that from February 1997 to August 2001, the telemarketers misrepresented the purpose of their calls, provided false information with respect to the prior existence of subscriptions to various Tamec products, and did not disclose restrictions applied to the return of these products. Complainants also alleged that the telemarketers did not disclose that, by agreeing to accept delivery of one edition of a Tamec product, they were actually entering into a multi-edition subscription.

The accused parties market various business directories as well as Web-based advertising services under the names Zip411Net, Zip411Com, Affaires411, Business411, Bizcom, Zipcom, Commercial Information Bank of Canada ("CIBC"), B.I.C.C., Bureau d'Informations Classifiées du Canada, et Guide CD-ROM des entreprises du Québec.

Consumers who suspect they have been the victim of deceptive telemarketing are encouraged to contact the Competition Bureau's Information Centre at 1-800-348-5358, or Project PhoneBusters at 1-888-495-8501.

The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency that ensures all Canadians enjoy the benefits of a competitive economy, low prices, product choice and quality service. It oversees the application of the Competition Act, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, the Textile Labelling Act and the Precious Metals Marking Act .

For media enquiries, please contact:

Charles Bergeron
Senior Communications Advisor
Communications Branch
819-956-0774 or 613-296-2187 (cell.)

For general public enquiries, please contact:

Competition Bureau's Information Center
1-800-348-5358 or 819-997-4282