Why cold calling in France may get worse before it gets better

The government is changing the law on telephone canvassing in order for it to be prohibited across all sectors.

This new measure will take effect on August 11, following the law passed on June 30, 2025.

However, it is possible that cold calling may become more intense as the deadline approaches.

Under the current rules, telephone canvassing is only permitted under strict conditions, including specific time restrictions and compliance with the Bloctel (the official French opt-out list for telephone marketing).

From August 11 this will change, shifting from an opt-out to a strict opt-in regime: consumers will only be able to be contacted if they have given explicit prior consent or if there is an existing contractual relationship. 

Businesses will therefore be required to ensure that consent is clearly obtained and properly documented before any telephone marketing campaign.

Consumers will no longer be able to register with Bloctel which will be discontinued from August 11.

The change may lead to an increase in cold calling activity until August, as some marketing companies take advantage of the final months before the new rules take effect. 

Scams adding to the cold-calling issue 

Earlier this year, EDF Group and Enedis also warned of a rise in fraudulent behaviour, mainly via cold calls, but also through emails and door-to-door visits. These “fraudulent behaviours” refer specifically to a scam or impersonation approach, not legitimate regulated marketing calls. 

Both operators say that they do not engage in telephone canvassing without the other person’s consent, and that they never request banking details over the phone.

Enedis also stresses that any legitimate intervention is either scheduled in advance or accompanied by official notice, except in emergency situations.

Unsolicited marketing by phone, email, SMS or even social media is already prohibited in certain sectors, including energy renovation, housing adaptation for disability or ageing, and commercial canvassing of holders of the Personal Training Account (CPF).

If you are already receiving too many scam calls and want to reduce them until the new law comes into force, French developer Camille Bouvat has created Saracroche, an app designed to block unwanted calls for free. The tool was developed in response to the growing volume of nuisance and fraudulent calls.

“What bothered me most were the constant spam calls, relating to solar panels, Enedis etc,” Mr Bouvat told The Connexion.

Initially, the application was meant just for him and his close circle, but gradually more users joined. Today, the app has more than 600,000 users and blocks millions of scam calls per day. 

Consumers who receive suspicious or unwanted calls (including both legal marketing calls and illegal scam attempts) can also report them through Bloctel (while it remains active), the 33700 spam reporting service or via the official DGCCRF online reporting platform.