Mexico City – For anyone tired of answering the phone only to hear another pitch for a credit card, insurance policy, or personal loan, a proposed change to Mexico’s consumer protection law could bring some relief. The Senate has unanimously approved tougher penalties for companies that contact people with unsolicited advertising, with fines reaching more than 2.3 million pesos.
The reform targets businesses that repeatedly call or message consumers to promote products and services without their consent. It would extend beyond traditional telephone calls to include commercial messages sent through platforms such as WhatsApp and other messaging apps.
Under the approved amendments to the Federal Consumer Protection Law, companies that disregard the restrictions could be fined between 56,570 and 2,345,728 pesos. Lawmakers say stronger penalties are needed because existing sanctions have done little to stop the steady flow of unwanted marketing calls.
Businesses would not be able to avoid responsibility by outsourcing their advertising campaigns, either. Companies that hire outside agencies to contact potential customers would remain accountable for those communications.
The problem is widespread. Data from caller identification service Truecaller, cited in the report, places Mexico among the five countries worldwide with the highest volume of unwanted calls. The average user receives between 20 and 25 spam contacts every month.
Beyond the frustration of constant interruptions, lawmakers point to a more serious concern: unsolicited communications can expose people to fraudulent schemes and intrude on their privacy. The proposed restrictions are intended to give consumers greater control over how businesses use their contact information.
Consumers Can Already Register to Avoid Advertising
While the new penalties await further approval, consumers can take steps to reduce unwanted marketing calls by signing up for the Federal Consumer Protection Agency’s (Profeco) Public Registry to Avoid Advertising, known as REPEP.
The service is free, and consumers can register by calling 800-962-8000 from the telephone number they want to protect. Registration is also available through the official REPEP website.
Once a number is registered, businesses have 30 days to stop making covered advertising calls and using the registered consumer’s personal data for marketing purposes.
The registry does have limits. It does not prevent calls from debt collectors, political organizations, charities, or companies conducting surveys.
What Happens Next?
The Senate’s approval is an important step, but the reform must still pass through the Chamber of Deputies before it can become law. If the lower house approves the amendments as written, the bill will go to the federal executive branch for publication in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF).
The new rules would take effect the day after publication. Until then, the proposed higher fines cannot be enforced under this reform.
For now, consumers can use REPEP to limit unwanted advertising calls. If the reform completes the legislative process, companies that continue contacting people without authorization could face a much more expensive consequence than another unanswered phone call.
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