Risk To Charities As ICO Heats Up On Cold-Calling

Charities that use cold-calling marketing techniques must ensure they comply with the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (Privacy Regulations). The ICO recently fined two companies an aggregate of £225,000 for making cold-calls without checking whether anyone on their lists had opted out of receiving cold-calls. Although the companies were not charities, this case emphasizes the importance of complying with the Privacy Regulations.

Between May 2011 and December 2012 those companies attracted in excess of 2,700 complaints to the Telephone Preference Services (TPS) or reports to the ICO. This case highlights two things: (i) their disregard for individuals' wishes not to be contacted; and (ii) their lack of adequate knowledge of the Privacy Regulations.