France implements strict opt-in system for marketing calls from August 11
France is introducing sweeping changes to telephone marketing regulations on August 11, 2026, fundamentally transforming how businesses can contact consumers by phone. The new rules, established under Law n° 2025-594 of 30 June 2025 on 'Combating All Forms of Fraud Involving Public Aid', replace the country's previous opt-out system with a strict opt-in regime.
Under the new framework, companies must obtain clear prior consent from consumers before making any marketing calls. This marks a significant departure from the previous system, where businesses could contact anyone who had not registered their number with Bloctel, France's opt-out service, which will cease to exist on August 11.
Why France needed stricter rules
The legislation comes in response to a persistent problem that has plagued French consumers for years. Authorities estimate that around three quarters of people in France receive at least one unsolicited sales call every week. According to a 2024 study by HIYA, a Seattle-based security company, France and Spain tied for the highest volume of spam calls in Europe, averaging 15 unwanted cold-calls per month. For France, this represented five more spam calls per month compared to 2023.
The previous Bloctel system, created in 2016, proved largely ineffective despite accumulating more than 11 million registrations since its inception. As of January 2025, over 6 million numbers remained registered on the platform. Yet a 2023 study by consumer organization UFC Que Choisir found that French people still received an average of 4 unwanted calls per week, or more than 200 calls per year, even when registered on the Bloctel list. By October 2024, 97% of French people reported being fed up with the prevalence of cold calls, according to UFC Que Choisir.
How the new consent system works
Companies can only make marketing calls if they have obtained explicit consent in advance or if they already have a contractual relationship with the consumer and the call concerns related products or services. Valid consent must be active and informed, meaning businesses must clearly explain who they are, why they want to contact the consumer, what type of service is involved, and how long the consent remains valid.
Examples of acceptable consent include ticking a consent box when purchasing a product, signing an online form with clear telephone marketing permission, or agreeing during a recorded conversation during a home visit. Importantly, consent cannot be obtained during an unsolicited call itself. Any consent given remains valid for a maximum of one year, and consumers can withdraw their agreement at any time.
Certain sectors face additional restrictions. Telephone marketing related to energy renovation work, home adaptations for elderly or disabled people, and some CPF-related offers remain prohibited, as they have been since 2025. However, calls offering newspaper, magazine, or periodical subscriptions continue to be permitted.
Strict time limits and frequency caps
Even when legally permitted to contact consumers, companies must respect strict boundaries. Commercial calls are only allowed Monday to Friday, from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 20:00. Calls on Saturdays, Sundays, or public holidays are prohibited unless the consumer has specifically requested contact at another agreed time. Additionally, companies are limited to a maximum of four calls per consumer per month.
Significant penalties for violations
Businesses that violate the new regulations face substantial financial consequences. Illegal calls can result in fines of up to €75,000 per call for individual professionals and €375,000 per call for companies. In serious cases, particularly involving abuse of vulnerable consumers or deceptive practices, criminal penalties may apply, including higher fines and possible prison sentences. Companies must maintain proof of consent and provide it upon request.
The regulatory authority DGCCRF has demonstrated its enforcement capacity under the previous system, checking 5,300 numbers in 2023 and imposing fines totaling €4.4 million for breach of telemarketing rules.
Ongoing challenges with foreign callers
While the reform should significantly reduce calls from legitimate businesses, it will not completely eliminate nuisance calls and scams. Foreign-based operators, particularly those outside the European Union, pose an ongoing challenge for French authorities. Some scammers use foreign numbers, fake caller IDs, or technologies that hide their real location, making enforcement more difficult.
The scale of phone fraud remains significant. Nearly 18,000 reports of phone number identity theft (spoofing) were recorded on the dedicated platform 'I alert Arcep' between January and December 2025. Although the new rules apply to any company targeting people in France regardless of location, enforcement against overseas operators presents practical difficulties.
What to do if you receive an illegal call
Consumers who receive marketing calls without having given consent should report them through SignalConso, the French government's consumer reporting platform. Since its launch in 2020, SignalConso has received over one million consumer protection reports, demonstrating its role as an established mechanism for addressing consumer complaints.
When reporting violations, consumers should keep evidence including the phone number, date, time, and conversation details. They should also ask the company to delete their personal data and stop all contact. If a caller pressures you, requests personal information or payment details, or claims urgent action is required, it is safer to end the call immediately and contact the organisation directly using an official number.
