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An insurance offer over the phone does not oblige you to continue the conversation or sign. Before deciding, distinguish between your consent to be contacted for telemarketing, your agreement to continue the call and any decision you may make to take out a policy. These steps do not address the same question.
Before the call: did you consent to being contacted for telemarketing?
Since 11 August 2026, a professional generally cannot make a telemarketing call to you without your prior consent. This consent must be freely given, specific, informed, unambiguous and revocable. In particular, you must know which professional may call you and about which products or services.
One exception applies, in particular, if you have an existing contract with the professional and the call concerns that contract. Service Public also mentions an exception for offers of newspapers, periodicals or magazines. Therefore, do not assume that every call is necessarily prohibited in the absence of prior consent: check the context of the call.
The professional must be able to prove your consent. It can be valid for a maximum of one year from the date it was given and cannot be renewed automatically. You can withdraw it at any time, including orally.
During the call: do you want to continue?
For insurance, specific rules apply in addition to the general rules on consent to telemarketing. The insurer must first obtain your agreement to continue the call and stop the conversation if you are not interested.
You can say that you do not wish to continue. If you object to continuing the conversation, the professional must end the call without delay and refrain from contacting you again.
Before signing: take time to decide
For insurance telemarketing, a period of 24 hours must precede the signing of the contract, and the sale cannot take place during the first call. Calls must be recorded and kept for two years.
To prepare for your decision, ask yourself whether you really want this insurance and whether you understand the offer presented. Do not confuse listening to an offer with a decision to take out a policy. If anything remains unclear, ask for clarification before signing.
On which days and at what times can you be called?
Telemarketing calls are permitted from Monday to Friday, from 10 h to 13 h and from 14 h to 20 h. They are prohibited on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. An exception applies if you have expressly agreed to a call at a specific date and time outside these periods; the professional must be able to prove this agreement.
What can you do if calls continue?
If you agreed to be contacted for telemarketing but have changed your mind, withdraw your consent with the professional. If marketing calls continue without your consent or after you have withdrawn it, you can report the matter on Signal Conso. You can also contact the Cnil if your report concerns the use of your personal data for marketing purposes.
For three years following the date of your consent, you can ask the professional to provide proof of it free of charge. The professional must provide it to you on a durable medium within a reasonable time.
For details of the rules and procedures, see the Service Public guide to abusive telemarketing. This article provides general guidance and does not replace advice tailored to your situation.