WIREDGOV

Citizens Advice has re-iterated its call for financial services to be banned from cold calling as the Information Comission fines two firms for nuisance calls.

Gillian Guy, Chief Executive of national charity Citizens Advice said:

“If the Government is serious about consumer rights they need to ban cold calling for financial services.  Any company fined for hounding people with nuisance calls should be obliged to give their victims compensation.

“A tough clampdown on nuisance calls would make it clear to consumers that if you are contacted out of the blue, then it is a scam or a service not to be trusted.

“At its worst, PPI mis-selling was of a colossal scale. A survey by Citizens Advice last year  showed that 9 out of 10 people were pestered by calls, emails and spam texts from claims management companies within 12 months, and 72% were about PPI claims.

“It’s good to see the Information Commission’s Office flexing its muscles on behalf of consumers, and fining We Claim You Gain because of its nuisance PPI calls.”

Citizens Advice

Notes to editors

1. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local bureaux, all of which are independent charities, and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more information in England and Wales see www.citizensadvice.org.uk
2. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality. For online advice and information see www.adviceguide.org.uk
3. Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2.1 million clients on 6.9 million problems from April 2011 to March 2012. For full 2011/2012 service statistics see our quarterly publication Advice trends
4. Out of 22 national charities, the Citizens Advice service is ranked by the general public as being the most helpful, approachable, professional, informative, effective / cost effective, reputable and accountable (nfpSynergy’s Brand Attributes survey, May 2010).
5. Most Citizens Advice service staff are trained volunteers, working at around 3,500 service outlets across England and Wales.