Starting August 2025, Chile requires all commercial calls to use specific phone number prefixes to help citizens immediately identify the nature of incoming calls and combat unwanted spam or fraudulent calls. Requested commercial callsโwhere the consumer already has a relationship with the business or has specifically asked for the contactโmust use the 600 prefix. In contrast, unsolicited or spam commercial calls must use the 809 prefix.
600 Prefix: Requested Calls
- Calls from numbers beginning with 600 are designated for companies that either have an existing relationship with the person being called or have been explicitly asked by the consumer to make contact.
- Examples include banks, utilities, or retailers contacting a customer for an arranged appointment, update, or service issue.
809 Prefix: Unsolicited Calls
- Any outbound unsolicited commercial call, such as telemarketing or sales, must originate from a number beginning with 809.
- This is designed to mark calls that have not been requested by the recipient, enabling people to quickly recognize potential spam or advertising and choose whether to answer.
Enforcement and Impact
- The regulation took effect on August 13, 2025, after a six-month adjustment period, and is enforced by the Chilean telecom authority (Subtel).
- Companies violating these requirements can face substantial fines ranging from 5 to 5,000 UTM (Unidad Tributaria Mensual), equivalent to approximately 355 to 355,000 US dollars, depending on the gravity of the infraction.
- Emergency services, two-factor authentication, and essential government communications are exempt from these rules.
- The initiative is intended to protect consumers from scams, reduce nuisance calls, and give users clear information for deciding whether to take a call.
This reform is part of Chileโs broader movement toward increased consumer protection in telecommunications and aims to foster trust and transparency in customer communications.
