France has dramatically tightened its rules on telephone marketing, but the change does not mean every commercial call has disappeared.
Since August 11, 2026, businesses generally cannot call French consumers for commercial prospecting unless the person previously gave explicit consent. The reform reversed the old system, where consumers had to take steps to opt out.
The French government says the former Bloctel opt out system has consequently been abolished.
Why can people still receive calls?
There are important exceptions.
A company can still contact a customer when the call relates to an existing contract. Calls concerning newspaper, magazine and periodical subscriptions are also treated differently under the rules.
This means receiving a commercial call does not automatically prove that a company is breaking the law.
Consumers may also have previously given valid consent without immediately remembering it, for example when completing a form.
Consent must now be clear
The rules for consent are strict.
According to France's consumer protection authority, consent must be active and informed. A preselected box or simply failing to object does not count.
Businesses must also tell consumers who they are, why they want permission to call and how long the consent remains valid. Consent can last for a maximum of one year and can be withdrawn.
Importantly, companies cannot simply make an unsolicited call to ask for permission to make marketing calls.
There are limits even when calls are allowed
Businesses that are legally permitted to make marketing calls still face restrictions.
Calls are generally limited to Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. They are prohibited on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
The same professional, including companies acting on its behalf, generally cannot contact or attempt to contact the same consumer more than four times during a rolling 30 day period.
What should you do about an unwanted call?
Consumers who receive a commercial call without having given permission can report it through France's SignalConso service.
The government also recommends recording the telephone number and the date and time of the call as evidence. Consumers can request deletion of their personal information and withdraw any previous consent.
Companies that violate the rules can face substantial penalties. France's DGCCRF says illegal telephone prospecting can lead to fines of up to €75,000 for an individual and €375,000 for a company.
The key change is therefore not that every marketing call has vanished. Instead, France has moved from a system where consumers had to refuse unwanted prospecting to one where businesses generally need permission before calling.
