On Sunday 20 August, the Government has announced a ban on all forms of pension cold calling, including emails and text messages.

Citizens Advice has previously called for the ban after its own research found that as many as 10.9 million people received unsolicited calls, emails and texts about their pensions in 2016 alone.

Welcoming the ban, Gillian Guy Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said:

“Introducing an outright ban on pension cold calls will help protect people’s life savings.

“Pension scams can rob people of tens of thousands of pounds, ruin their retirement plans and threaten their financial security in the long-term.

“Banning unsolicited calls - a move Citizens Advice has been calling for - will make it much easier for people to spot a pension scam, and should put fraudsters off making contact out of the blue in the first place.”

Notes to editors

1. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local Citizens Advice, all of which are independent charities, the Citizens Advice consumer service 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 see the Citizens Advice website.
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.
3. To get advice online or find your local Citizens Advice in England and Wales, visit citizensadvice.org.uk
4. You can get consumer advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 or 03454 04 05 05 for Welsh language speakers.
5. Local Citizens Advice in England and Wales advised 2.5 million clients on 6.2 million problems in 2014/15. For full service statistics see our publication Advice trends.
6. Citizens Advice service staff are supported by more than 21,000 trained volunteers, working at over 2,500 service outlets across England and Wales.