Government makes it easier to crackdown on nuisance calls crooks

Telephone Preference Service is moving from Ofcom to the ICO.

Transferral of powers will mean that ICO can deal with complaints at a quicker rate.

Complaints against rogue callers will be even easier to make thanks to new Government plans to tackle nuisance callers.

TPS is a free service for mobile and landline phone users, which blocks unsolicited sales and marketing calls.

Minister of State for Digital and Culture Matt Hancock said:

“Nuisance callers are a blight on society, causing significant distress to elderly and vulnerable people. We have been clear that we will not stand for this continued harassment. Last month, we announced plans to make directors personally liable for nuisance calls. Now, we are going to strengthen the enforcement of the rules by giving the Information Commissioner powers to act, all part of our on-going campaign against rogue callers.

“This measure will enable complaints arising from nuisance calls and faxes to be dealt with more quickly.”

At present, Ofcom keeps up-to-date registers of the telephone and fax numbers of people who have notified TPS that they do not wish to receive direct marketing calls.

But by placing responsibility for the service with the ICO, which currently dishes out fines to nuisance call crooks, it will be even easier for the ICO to go after rogue companies in breach of the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR).

It further has the power to clamp down on organisations that make unsolicited telephone calls to those registered to TPS without their consent.

And, as the ICO will have direct access to the data, it will also have control over how the register is maintained, as well as how complaints are recorded and handled.