Nine companies linked to illegal telemarketing calls about duct-cleaning services have been named and shamed by the CRTC.

Four companies have already paid fines totalling $55,000, while another five are on notice for a combined $94,000 in penalties.

The nine companies, all based in the Greater Toronto Area, were identified by the CRTC during a "lengthy and labour-intensive" investigation, after consumers complained about receiving annoying sales pitches.

Story continues below advertisement

The CRTC found the companies were using foreign call centres for their telemarketing, which were not respecting the national do not call list.

HR Home Services was fined $3,000, Bridge Home Services Inc. paid $6,000, and Cambridge Heating Services and Top Line Air Duct Cleaning Inc. owed $23,000 each for breaking telemarketing rules.

The CRTC said the following companies have 30 days to plead their cases or pay their fines: Aqua Duct Cleaning Services ($9,000), N. Bro Transport Inc. ($14,000), Kareem Duct Cleaning ($15,000), Goodlife Home Services Inc. ($16,000) and Toronto Breeze Air Duct Cleaning Services Inc. ($40,000).

The do not call list now has more than 12.8 million numbers that should not be dialled by telemarketers.

The CRTC says it has issued fines totalling more than $6 million since the registry was launched in 2008, in addition to other penalties amounting to $741,000.