08/12/2014

New Recommendations For Nuisance Calls

Recommendations are to be set up to help tackle the menace of unwanted calls and texts.

The Government's Nuisance Calls Task Force also includes holding senior executives to account for the behaviour of their company.

The task force, chaired by Which? executive director, Richard Lloyd, is part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's (DCMS) Action Plan on nuisance calls. It was asked by the Government to review the way businesses obtain and use consumers' consent to be contacted by phone and text for direct marketing.

It will make 15 recommendations, including making senior executives more responsible for the actions of their company. The recommendations will be presented to Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy Ed Vaizey, at an event in Westminster this evening.

Richard Lloyd, Chair of the Nuisance Calls Task Force, said: "Consumers have suffered nuisance calls and texts for far too long. They are often confused or misled by requests for consent to being contacted, so today we set out recommendations to introduce tougher rules and more action from businesses, the regulators and the Government.

"Only through concerted and coordinated action will we put people back in control of their data and help bring this modern day menace to an end."

(CD/JP)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

28 August 2003
Oftel moves against nuisance callers
The communications watchdog Oftel has today confirmed new measures to protect consumers from the misuse of electronic communications networks or services that can result in nuisance calls. The statement issued today outlines the powers, which can now be used by Oftel to protect consumers from persistent misuse.
05 August 2015
Claims Management Company Fined For Nuisance Calls
A claims management company has been fined more than £200,000 under new claims management regulation powers.
18 June 2013
Call Centres Featured In BBC Programme Fined For Nuisance Calls
Fines for nuisance calls have been issued to two companies, which recently appeared in the BBC Three series the Call Centre.
29 June 2005
Fines to rise for premium rate ‘scammers’
Rogue firms, which use premium rate numbers in phone and text scams, could face fines of £250,000 under new government proposals. The increase has been promoted by a surge in phone text promotions, prompting callers to dial premium rate numbers, as well as a rise in complaints from consumers unknowingly connecting to expensive Internet diallers.
30 July 2013
New Measures Announced To Tackle Marketing Calls
Culture Secretary Maria Miller has announced a number of measure to tackle nuisance and unwanted marketing calls. As part of the plan regulators will be give new powers to take action against companies, including cold callers being unable to conceal their number. It is hoped to make reporting these type of calls easier.