O Canada! Please warn suppliers about CASL. The fines are very hefty!

[5bucks]

This is not e-cig specific but there is a law coming into effect on July 1st (just 3 days from now) in Canada that as far as I can gather will levy fines on anyone emailing Canadians that break the rules. It's even caused Microsoft to stop sending out security related emails to people that are not even in Canada and have specifically asked to be emailed. Perhaps not all suppliers that do business with Canada are aware of this. The fines are as follows.

• Business face fines up to $10,000,000
• CEOs, and each officer, may be fined up to $1,000,000
• Marketing Agencies may be fined up to $10,000,000
• Individuals, may be fined $10,000

See the following websites for more information.

Do You Send Messages To Your Customers and Clients? | Katt Stearns
Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation: Home
Fighting Internet and Wireless Spam Act - Wikipedia

Perhaps one of those yellow alerts on the forum home page is in order?

 

[retired1]

If the company has an opt-in policy that users have specifically asked to be a part of (usually it's part of the account sign up process), there are no issues at all. The only ones crying about the new law are the spammers and companies who refuse to adopt an opt-in policy.

 

[5bucks]

I haven't seen anyone crying about it but then again, I haven't gone looking. That wasn't the point I was trying to raise. I just think it would be wise for suppliers to be aware of this issue. I'm new to the game and as such have only done business with 5 companies so I don't know that all vape businesses have an opt-in policy. Do they? If they do, how strict are they with that opt-ins because according to that article...

For example, if someone signs up for your monthly newsletter you cannot use that same email address (which they opted-in on) to send him or her an email about your 50% off summer sale separate from your newsletter, unless you have clearly indicated that they will receive promotions when they opted into your newsletter. You can only send the recipient your newsletter.

...there are very specific rules as to what you can send. Are all the suppliers that do business in Canada aware of these specifics, have they had meetings about that end of their operations, etc?

If this legislation has Microsoft, of all companies, worried and people have opted in, then I think it's something that should be examined.

 

[retired1]

For business purposes, the new legislation has received wide coverage up here. I can think of one company that I get emails from and yes, I did opt in for them.