ICO Issues Enforcement Order To Nuisance Caller - Marketers Beware!

Following recent action taken by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) marketing firms are advised to remain vigilant in relation to unwanted marketing phone calls.

Since May 1999 residential telephone owners have been entitled to register for free with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) to indicate that they do not wish to receive sales and marketing calls.  In addition, the ICO has issued detailed guidance for companies which carry out marketing detailing their legal obligations under the Data Protection Act and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations.

Under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations it is illegal for callers who undertake direct marketing to call an individual who has advised the caller that they do not want to receive marketing calls on that line or a telephone line which has been registered with TPS.