Insurance regulator IRDAI has directed insurers to adopt the 1600-number series for all service and transactional voice calls made to consumers by February 15, otherwise face action. Any complaint of Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC) against non-compliant IRDAI regulated entities will be processed as per the regulatory provisions of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) applicable to unregistered telemarketers.

Additionally, they will be liable to face action as deemed appropriate by IRDAI, it said in a circular to all insurers. TRAI had mandated the adoption of 1600-series as a measure to curb UCC, prevent impersonation-based fraud and enhance consumer confidence. No service or transactional voice calls should be initiated from any number other than the numbers allotted under the 1600-series after February 15, irrespective of express or implied customer consent, IRDAI directed insurers to ensure strict compliance as well as submit status reports.