Tag: nuisance calls

ICO issues half a million pounds in new fines as fight to tackle illegal nuisance calls continues

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has issued fines totalling £590,000 to five companies for collectively making 1.9 million unwanted marketing calls which targeted the elderly and people with vulnerabilities.

This latest action is part of a wider crackdown to tackle rogue companies using pressurised sales techniques to sell insurance for white goods, such as washing machines and fridges, and other household appliances, including TVs.

£1.45 million in fines have now been issued by the ICO since October 2021 to 16 companies for making illegal, unwanted marketing calls, many to people who had taken steps to block nuisance calls by registering with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS). The fines resulted from detailed investigations by the ICO, assisted by intelligence from National Trading Standards

The companies often target older people and people with vulnerabilities, and in most instances, people who already had or did not need the service.

Andy Curry, Head of ICO Investigations, said: “We’ve heard harrowing stories of people being hounded with these nuisance calls, and feeling forced into handing over bank details for unwanted and unnecessary insurance.

“We’re working to protect people who are being deliberately targeted because they’re seen as easy pickings by unscrupulous cold callers.”

CASE STUDY:

Jonathan Young’s parents made payments totalling more than £2,000 to around a dozen companies after receiving marketing calls for insurance policies that they didn’t need.

Mr Young tracked the payments through his parents’ bank statements and spent months trying to recover the money. The ICO has today fined two of those companies as part of the latest round of its action.

Jonathan said: “Despite opting out of receiving marketing calls, my parents were bombarded by calls from companies selling insurance products. They were often left confused about who was calling them and high-pressure sales tactics led to them paying thousands of pounds for policies they didn’t need or really want.

“During one call, I believe my mother may have been coerced into making a payment using my father’s debit card while he was asleep. Companies should not be targeting elderly people and those with vulnerabilities in this way and I am grateful to the ICO for its continuing action to help prevent distress to other families.”

It is against the law to make a live marketing call to anyone who is registered with the TPS, unless the individual has informed the specific organisation that they do not object to receiving calls from them.

Andy added: “Registering with the TPS makes it illegal for companies to call you without your consent.

“We’d encourage anyone who wants to block unsolicited marketing calls, to either a land line or mobile phone, to sign up to this free service. Then, if you or your loved one is on the receiving end of this kind of call, contact the ICO so we can investigate.”

Register a landline or mobile phone for free to block unwanted marketing calls by visiting the Telephone Preference Service (tpsonline.org.uk).

Complaints about nuisance calls can be made to the ICO at ico.org.uk.

The latest five companies to be issued fines are:

Jenny Ross, Editor of Which? Money, said: ““It is unacceptable that rogue companies are targeting elderly, vulnerable people through illegal and unwanted marketing calls pressuring them into buying appliance cover that they don’t need, and positive that the ICO is taking action on this issue.

“Which? has been warning about rogue firms cold-calling people about insurance for white goods or other household appliances for years and has reported over 100 firms to the ICO and Trading Standards.

“If you or someone you know has been cold-called about appliance cover, ask for the company name and report it to the ICO. If you are being inundated with cold calls, ask your phone network about the call blocking services it offers.”

Nuisance calls: enough’s enough

nuisance calls

A £50,000 fund to install call-blocking technology for those most at risk from nuisance calls has been announced by Economy Secretary Keith Brown. The fund is one element of a national Nuisance Calls Action Plan, launched to raise awareness and empower people to protect themselves from scam callers. Continue reading Nuisance calls: enough’s enough

Government to crack down on nuisance call companies

Companies making unwanted marketing calls to be hit with fines of up to £500,000

phone keypad

‘Have you been mis-sold PPP insurance?’

‘If you could replace any of the windows in your home …’

‘Have you heard about the government’s boiler replacement scheme’

‘Injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault?’

Consumers plagued by nuisance calls and texts will benefit from changes to the law which will make it easier for those firms responsible to be hit with fines of up to £500,000.

The law currently requires the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to prove a company caused ‘substantial damage or substantial distress’ by their conduct before action can be taken. Following a six-week public consultation, the Government is now removing this legal threshold, giving the ICO the power to intervene in more cases. This change will come into effect from 6 April 2015.

The Government also confirmed it will look at introducing measures to hold board level executives responsible for nuisance calls and texts. This follows a report from the Which?-led taskforce last December, which called for a review of the rules in order to act as a stronger deterrent to rogue companies.

Digital Economy Minister Ed Vaizey said: “For far too long companies have bombarded people with unwanted marketing calls and texts, and escaped punishment because they did not cause enough harm.

“This change will make it easier for the Information Commissioner’s Office to take action against offenders and send a clear message to others that harassing consumers with nuisance calls or texts is just not on. We’re also going to look at whether the powers the ICO have to hold to account board level executives for such behaviour are sufficient or we need to do more.

The Government is committed to tackling the problem of nuisance calls. In July last year, the rules were changed to make it easier for Ofcom to share information with the ICO on companies breaking the law. This is already helping in the ICO’s efforts in taking more action. In addition, the Government is looking to introduce mandatory caller line identification (CLI) so that all marketing callers will have to display their telephone numbers.

Which? executive director, Richard Lloyd, who chaired the Nuisance Calls Task Force said: “We welcome the Government making good on its promise to change the law so it’s easier to prosecute nuisance callers.

“These calls are an everyday menace blighting the lives of millions so we want the regulator to send a clear message by using their new powers to full effect without delay.

“It’s also good news that the Government has listened to our call and is looking into how senior executives can be held to account if their company makes nuisance calls.

Justice and Civil Liberties Minister Simon Hughes said: “Being pestered by unwanted marketing calls and texts can bring real misery for the people on the receiving end. We have already increased the level of fine available to punish rogue companies. This new change in the law will make it easier from now on for the Information Commissioner to take quick and firm action against companies who give so much grief to so many people.”

Nuisance calls and texts remains a significant concern for consumers – in some cases they are not only annoying, but can also cause distress especially amongst vulnerable people in society. The latest data and research shows that:

  • Around four out of five people surveyed by consumer group Which? said they are regularly cold-called at home, with a third of them left feeling intimidated.
  • There were 15,642 complaints related to nuisance calls and texts made to the ICO in November 2014, of which solar panel accounted for 2,377, whilst for PPI the figure was 1,830.
  • In total there were over 175,000 complaints related to nuisance calls and texts made to the ICO for 2014.

Currently the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has powers to take enforcement action against companies who flout the existing rules on direct marketing. Since January 2012, the ICO has taken enforcement action against nine companies for nuisance calls and text messages, hitting them with fines totalling £815,000.

Separately, Ofcom has powers to deal with abandoned and silent calls by taking action against offenders that persistently misuse a network or service resulting in annoyance, inconvenience or anxiety. Since 2012, Ofcom has fined seven companies totalling £1,618,000 for abandoned and silent calls.

Edinburgh West MP Mike Crockart Mike is the founder and Co-Chair of the All Party Group on Nuisance Calls and he has worked closely with the regulators, consumer groups and the Government to ensure consumers are protected from nuisance calls and spam text messages.

He spearheaded the campaign to reform the laws, saying: “I am fed up of nuisance calls to my landline and mobile as well as unsolicited texts. People shouldn’t have to put up with this menace which puts many vulnerable and elderly people at risk of fraud just as much as if the crook or pushy salesman was turning up at their door.

“I am calling for the Information Commissioner’s powers to be strengthened to take in all forms of unsolicited contact and for there to be a single, simple point of contact for any individual wishing to protect their privacy from unwanted calls, texts, faxes and emails.”

The Lib-Dem MP urged members of the public to join a campaign to encourage the government to take action to curb the activities of the nuisance call companies. It seems those voices have been heard – and now we’ll have to wait to see (or hear) what effect the latest government action will have on the nuisance callers. Will the phones go quiet?

Now, who do I call about double glazing …