In a bid to better streamline the database, market regulator SEBI has operationalised a centralised web based complaints redress system where all investor complaints would be processed.

"SEBI has commenced processing of investor complaints in a centralised web based complaints redress system 'SCORES'," it said in a circular. The SEBI Complaints Redress System (SCORES), as the new system is called, would act as centralised database of all complaints and facilitate online movement of complaints to the concerned intermediaries.

Besides, online upload of Action Taken Reports (ATRs) by the concerned entities, investors can also find out about the status of pending complaints made by them.

"Accordingly, henceforth all complaints shall be forwarded electronically through SCORES only," it said, adding that from now onwards submission of physical ATRs will not be accepted for complaints lodged in SCORES. The market regulator would also send a daily alert on pending complaints to concerned compliance officers.

House panel asks DoT to resolve the issue of pesky calls

Most of the service providers, except the two government-owned firms BSNL and MTNL, are ready to implement the regulation

Concerned over unwarranted and pesky calls and SMSes, a Parliamentary panel has asked the Department of Telecom (DoT) to solve all the problems associated with the issue and also address the difficulties expressed by service providers. 

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology has noted that DoT/Trai have taken various steps to address the issue of pesky calls. According to the the DoT, most of the service providers, except the two government-owned firms BSNL and MTNL, are ready to implement the regulation, the committee said in a report tabled in Parliament.

Last December, Trai had come out with recommendations, 'The Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2010' to curb the menace of pesky calls and SMSes. Since then, many deadlines have been missed for implementing the guidelines in view of the absence of an identified number series.

Trai has recommended a maximum fine of Rs 2.5 lakh on telemarketing companies for making unsolicited calls or SMSes to a consumer registered under the national customer preference register -- a modified version of Trai's 'Do Not Call Registry' list.

The subscriber may choose to be under the 'Fully Blocked' category, which is akin to the 'Do Not Call Registry'. The user can also choose the 'Partially Blocked' category, in which case he will receive SMSes in the categories chosen by him.

Trai had identified seven categories -- banking and financial products, real estate, education, health, consumer goods, automobiles, communication and entertainment, tourism and leisure.

In case of violations, as per the revised guidelines, the telemarketers will have to pay a fine of Rs 25,000 for the first offence, which will go up to Rs 75,000 in case of a second violation, Rs 80,000 for the third, Rs 1.25 lakh for the fourth, Rs 1.50 lakh for the fifth and Rs 2.5 lakh for the sixth offence, following which the number will be blocked by all service providers.