“We want regulators to send a clear message by using their new powers to full effect” Which? response to Department for Culture, Media and Sport Minister, Ed Vaizey’s confirmation that nuisance call rules will be changed in April to make it easier for regulators to take action against companies that break the rules

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.” 

Notes to Editors

1.    The Government asked Which? to chair a task force looking at the issues of consumer consent and the lead generation industry as part of it nuisance call Action Plan. The task-force made 15 recommendations to tackle unwanted calls and texts – a copy of the full report can be found here including all recommendations in the Executive Summary.

2.    Which? launched its Calling Time on Nuisance Calls campaign, which has almost 143,000 supporters, after finding around eight in 10 people (83%) had received a nuisance call on their land line in the previous month. Eight in 10 people found these calls an annoying interruption, while one third felt intimidated by them. More than 50,000 complaints have been logged on the Which? Nuisance calls online complaint tool, with around half going on to complain to the regulator.

3. In an online poll last December we asked:

‘What should happen to nuisance calling companies?

Option 1 – The law should stay the same – firms are only fined if nuisance calls are proven to have caused ‘substantial damage and distress’

Option 2 – The law should be tightened – firms should be fined for making repeated, unwanted nuisance calls

Option 2 won with 4827 votes, with Option 1 far behind with 15 votes