Phone customers can now block annoying sales calls

Telephone users can ask their phone companies to block sales calls or text messages from companies that offer credit cards, vacation plans, discounts and other promotions.

The Telecommunications Superintendency (SUTEL) said in a press release that customers who do not wish to receive promotional calls or messages may require the operator to block these communications, based on the right to privacy provisions of Article 44 of the General Telecommunications Law.

Eduardo Castellón, a spokesman with SUTEL, said the law exempts users who clearly accepted to receive promotions on their cellphones.

Failing to comply with a user’s request is considered a “serious fault,” and companies may be penalized with a fine of up to 1 percent of their gross revenue, SUTEL said in the release.