- Pests to be given huge fines should they hide behind anonymous numbers
- Government crackdown on cold callers set to be announced by minister
- As of 16th May 2016, UK companies must display number even if calling from abroad
- Ofcom estimates there are 4.8 billion nuisance calls in the UK every year
Cold callers hiding behind withheld numbers will face fines of half a million pounds under new laws. The Government crackdown on nuisance calls is set to be announced tomorrow by the minister for intellectual property, Baroness Neville-Rolfe.
As of May 16, direct marketing companies registered in the UK will need to display their phone numbers when making unsolicited phone calls - even if their call centres are based abroad.
The move follows backing from regulators and consumer groups and will make it easier for people to refuse and report unwanted marketing calls. Ofcom estimates that there are 4.8 billion nuisance calls in the UK every year, while a fifth of direct marketing calls come from an anonymous or fake phone number.
Baroness Neville Rolfe said: ‘Nuisance calls are incredibly intrusive and can cause significant harm to elderly and vulnerable members of society. ‘The Government is committed to tackling this problem, which is why we are making it easier for consumers to report companies by forcing them to display their phone numbers. ‘We’re sending a clear message to rogue direct marketing companies. Nuisance calls are unacceptable and we will not hesitate to take action against the companies behind them.’
Companies can risk fines of up to £2 million from Ofcom and a further £500,000 from the ICO if they continue to bombard consumers with unwanted calls.
The latest move follows news that a substantial number of fines totalling £895,000 have been issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
In 2015, this Government made it easier to fine nuisance callers by removing the need for consumers to prove that unwanted marketing calls were causing substantial distress and damage.
ICO Head of Enforcement, Steve Eckersley said: ‘Any change that make it easier for us to track down and take action against companies making nuisance calls is a change that will reduce the annoyance these calls cause. ‘We do investigate unscrupulous companies who hide their identities, and we can track them down, but it certainly makes our job more difficult. ‘And when people are able to identify the number behind the call they’ve received, they’re more likely to complain to us and that means we’re more able to take action.’
Which? Executive director Richard Lloyd, added: ‘This is another important victory in the fight against nuisance calls. With marketing firms now being forced to display their numbers when making calls, it will make it much easier for people to report them and enforcement action to be taken when companies break the law.’
The TATOC Consumer Helpline is noticing an annual decline in the number of reported cold calls relating to timeshare matters since the implementation of the Timeshare Directive 2008/122/ EC. The directive placed a ban on cold calling companies taking advance payments over the telephone for resale and other services. The helpline received 128 reports of cold calling during 2015 down 56 on the 2014’s reported 184
If you are experiencing problems with cold callers please see our TATOC Consumer Helpline guide on the subject that will give you more information on the subject and how to deal with them or call the TATOC Consumer Helpline on 0845 230 2430 or 0345 230 2430.
