Information Commissioner's Office
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‘Stop now’ order issued to Glasgow marketing company responsible for hundreds of nuisance calls

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has ordered a marketing company based in Glasgow to stop bombarding the public with nuisance marketing calls. 

DC Marketing Limited made the calls to try and get people to purchase solar panels partly financed by the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund. An ICO investigation found the company also frequently gave a false name to avoid detection.

It is against the law for a company to make marketing calls to an individual who has opted out of receiving them by registering with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) or informing the company directly. It is also against the law for a company to give out false information in an attempt to avoid detection.

The ICO became aware that DC Marketing Limited were still contacting individuals who had asked not to be contacted after 280 reports were made to the TPS and the ICO from angry members of the public.

ICO Assistant Commissioner for Scotland, Ken Macdonald, said:

“The law is clear. Companies must not contact individuals who have asked not to be called. DC Marketing Limited failed to respect people’s wishes and even lied in order to try and avoid detection.

“They have now been punished for their actions and served with an enforcement notice ordering them to stop making nuisance calls. If the company breaches the notice then it will be treated as a criminal offence.”

The ICO has published detailed guidance for companies carrying out marketing explaining their legal requirements under the Data Protection Act and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations. The guidance covers the circumstances in which organisations are able to carry out marketing over the phone, by text, by email, by post or by fax.

The ICO is also continuing to work with the government, OFCOM, the telecommunications industry and consumer groups, including Which?, to tackle the problem of nuisance calls. Further information about this work can be found on the ‘What action have we taken?’ section of the ICO website. .

 

Notes to Editors

1. The Information Commissioner’s Office upholds information rights in the public interest, promoting openness by public bodies and data privacy for individuals.
 
2. The ICO has specific responsibilities set out in the Data Protection Act 1998, the Freedom of Information Act 2000, Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003.

3. The ICO is on TwitterFacebook and LinkedIn, and produces a monthly e-newsletter. Our press office page provides more information for journalists.

4. Anyone who processes personal information must comply with eight principles of the Data Protection Act, which make sure that personal information is:

Fairly and lawfully processed
Processed for limited purposes 
Adequate, relevant and not excessive 
Accurate and up to date 
Not kept for longer than is necessary 
Processed in line with your rights 
Secure 
Not transferred to other countries without adequate protection

Channel website: https://ico.org.uk/

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