Every Friday, Lynda Steele dips into the viewer mailbag to answer your questions. This week, Steele on Your Side looks at aggressive telemarketers and paying for medical services.

Stopping telemarketers

Darren wrote us after receiving several phone calls from what he described as aggressive telemarketers. He wants to know how to make the calls stop.

You can try to stop calls by adding your home or cellphone number to the Do Not Call list on the CRTC's website. But some brazen telemarketers may still contact you anyway.

To help limit those calls, hang up and don't press any buttons. If you do, the auto dialer registers that a real person answered and may keep calling. If you have caller I.D. you can report the robo-caller's number to the Do Not Call list and they can be fined up to $15,000 per violation.

Charges for doctors’ services

Shervin wrote us after she requested a sick note from her doctor and was charged $10. She wants to know why the provincial Medical Service Plan doesn't pay for sick notes.

The Ministry of Health told CTV News that MSP covers all medically necessary care, but doctors can charge for services that are deemed to not be medically required. That includes doctor's notes.

Other services that doctors can charge for include:

  • $29 for a renewal of a prescription by telephone
  • $68 for a physical fitness exam for school
  • $189 for a full exam to obtain a driver's licence

Click here for a complete list of these guidelines.