Which? response to the joint Ofcom and Information Commissioner’s Office action plan on nuisance calls

Which? executive director Richard Lloyd said:

“We’ve long been calling for regulators to work closer together to tackle nuisance calls and texts so the joint plan from Ofcom and ICO is welcome news, and we hope will lead to tough action against companies that persistently break the rules.

“It is right that the regulators are now looking at the issue of a time limit on marketing consent, however the Government also needs to strengthen the law to put people back in control of their  personal data.”

More than 82,000 people have already pledged their support for our Calling Time on nuisance calls and texts campaign – consumers can show their support by visiting:  www.which.co.uk/callingtime

Notes to Editors

1. The Which? new online complaints tool will direct consumers to the relevant regulator’s complaint form in a matter of seconds, making it easier to register their frustration with nuisance calls and texts.

2. The Government should go further to make changes to the way consumers’ data is used by introducing:

  • An expiry date when a person consents to being contacted by ‘selected third parties.
  • An obligation on businesses to be able to prove to the Information Commissioner (ICO) that a person gave consent to being contacted.
  • The rules to be extended to include firms selling on personal data, not just those that conduct direct marketing

3. Previous Which? research found more than eight in ten (85%) people received an unsolicited call in one month, of these a staggering one in 10 (8%) people received 50 unwanted calls or more. Six in 10 (62%) people received calls about Payment Protection Insurance and half (48%) from accident claim companies.

Populus, on behalf of Which?, interviewed a representative sample of 2,070 UK adults between 19th and 21st April 2013, of these 1,827 had a landline. Data were weighted to be demographically representative of all UK adults. Populus is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.

 

Statement