From "Au Revoir" to "Bonjour": A New Era for Telemarketing Calls in France

Connecting with customers is all about starting a great conversation. And sometimes, the best conversations are the ones where both people are excited to be there. That’s the spirit behind a new law in France – one designed to make general marketing calls more welcome, wanted, and effective.

France says ‘non’ to unwanted calls

A new law in France is shifting the way businesses can make general telemarketing calls. In the past, people had to actively say "no thanks" to receiving these calls by opting out. Now, the tables have turned: businesses will need a clear “yes” before making general marketing calls. It’s like consumers raising their hands to say, “We’d like to hear from you!”

While the full prohibition on making general telemarketing calls without getting permission first won't come into effect until August 2026, it's a good idea to start thinking about how to collect and store consent from customers. The new rules also set specific time slots that marketing calls can be made, even with permission, which helps respect peoples' time.

Here are a few [other] important details:

• The bar for consent is high: it needs to be explicit, specific, and in line with GDPR standards.

• Calling times are still restricted: marketing calls are only permitted Monday through Friday, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Weekends and public holidays are still off-limits.

• Exceptions for existing contracts are pretty narrow: calls are only allowed if they’re directly related to a product or service a customer already pays for.

What this means for you

Since every business is different, we recommend consulting with your legal advisors to understand exactly how this new law applies to you and your customers. They can help you navigate the specifics and make sure you’re set up for success in this new landscape of customer communication.

We’re here to help you build and grow, and that includes keeping you in the loop on important changes like this one.