Have you received a phone call from us?

Please click on the about us link to read more about who we are and what we do. 
The phone call was to invite you to participate in one of our market research projects.

The following information may help answer a few questions you might have about the phone call.

Who is National Field Services? (NFS)

National Field Services is one of Australia’s most experienced market research fieldwork agencies. National Field Services is a member the Association of Market and Social Research Organisations (AMSRO) and all key personnel are members of the Australian Market & Social Research Society Limited (AMSRS).  As such we are fully compliant with the highest ethical standards, particularly in regards to privacy, quality assurance and ethical standards. All our operations and resources are Australian based (i.e. there is no off shore interviewing, administration or data processing).

How do I know you are a legitimate market research company?

Please feel free to contact our offices listed in the contact page of this website. Alternatively, members of the public who have any comments or concerns about a market research enquiry they’ve received are encouraged to go to www.amsrs.com.au/confirm to confirm bona fides of research companies through our industry body AMSRS. 

AMSRS can also provide you with advice on how the market research industry safeguards the privacy of your personal information.

I am on the Do Not Call Register. Why are you calling me and how did you get this number?

The ‘Do Not Call Register’ is for telemarketers who are trying to sell you something. It does not apply to people who are only collecting opinions and who are not trying to sell you anything. For our surveys we choose telephone numbers at random and participants’ opinions remain anonymous.

But it's all telemarketing, isn't it?

Researchers are not telemarketers. Government agencies and product manufacturers are very responsive to what they learn from research. In Australia, child-proof closures on medicines exist because research helped define the most workable designs. The location of stores and shopping centres in Australia is based on research. Public opinion research helps in decisions such as the best mass transit systems, social service programs and understanding the needs of special services for school children and senior citizens.

Why should I answer your questions?

Every opinion counts. For example, if residents living in areas of high bushfire risk in Victoria hadn’t taken part in a study about awareness of issues about bushfire, the state government wouldn’t have understood how under-prepared they were to deal with bushfire and would not have put practical measures in place to help those people in future. 

If farmers in Victoria hadn’t taken part in a study on plant pests and diseases in the state, the state government and growing bodies would not have known how to communicate with, and educate them so that farmers know how to identify, contain and eradicate such threats.

How do I know you won't try to sell me anything?

It is illegal to pretend to be doing market research if the real purpose of the call is telemarketing. Anyone caught doing this can be penalised under the Trade Practices Act.

What gives you the right to call me when I haven't given you permission?

People have the right to privacy. We respect that. But people also have a right to have their opinions heard. From studies on public health, to voting intentions, to television ratings, to surveys of customer satisfaction for developing better products and services, market and social research provides valuable information about our society.

I have a silent number. How did you get it?

For some studies researchers have to hear from groups that may be vulnerable. Telephone numbers are randomly generated or taken from existing databases. This increases the likelihood of including all legitimate telephone numbers across Australia which includes silent numbers.

How can I be sure that my Privacy is protected?

All AMSRO accredited market research organisations operate under the New Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) and the Market and Social Research Privacy Code (2014). The Market and Social Research Privacy Code 2014 is a customised version of the APPs in the Privacy Act (1988).  It sets out how the APPs are to be applied and complied with by AMSRO members in relation to the collection, retention, use and disclosure of personal information about the subjects of and participants in market and social research. The Code imposes some additional requirements beyond and above what is required under the APPs which guarantee even greater confidentiality and privacy for our respondents.

All our team operate and adhere to the AMSRS Code of Professional Behaviour which covers both the ethical requirements and standard conditions of conducting and reporting market and social research including privacy and data confidentiality.

What's in it for me?

Your opinion helps businesses and government agencies in making decisions that may directly affect you.  It is important that a broad cross section of the community gets to have their say. 

We also conduct some research projects where, if eligible, respondents are provided an incentive as a token of appreciation for their time and input. In last 10 years we have paid over $4 million in prize draws and incentives. If an incentive is offered it varies from project to project and is declared upfront by our team members when we contact you.

Why don't you leave a message?

As a market research company we mainly use random sampling when dialling Australian households and businesses.  If you are not available at the time that we call we move to another number to minimise the disruption to you. In the course of a project we may call you back to increase the likelihood of your participation but won’t leave a message in case it’s not received until after the project is finished.

How do I participate in paid research?

Please click Join our panel and fill out the registration form and depending on the amount of information you provide we will be in touch if you or your household qualifies for a study.

We appreciate your participation in our research and value your opinion. If you have any questions or would like to talk someone about this phone call please send us an email at nfs@nfs.com.au with details including your phone number and we will call you back to answer your queries.