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Nuisance call fines increase threefold | Nuisance call fines increase threefold |
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Fines by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) against nuisance call firms have increased by more than three times this year. | Fines by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) against nuisance call firms have increased by more than three times this year. |
The watchdog imposed fines of £1.14m for nuisance calls and texts compared with £330,000 of penalties in 2014. | The watchdog imposed fines of £1.14m for nuisance calls and texts compared with £330,000 of penalties in 2014. |
It comes after a change to the law in April made it easier to penalise firms. | It comes after a change to the law in April made it easier to penalise firms. |
The biggest fines were for companies selling pharmaceuticals, call blocking services and payment protection insurance (PPI) compensation. | The biggest fines were for companies selling pharmaceuticals, call blocking services and payment protection insurance (PPI) compensation. |
From April, the ICO only had to demonstrate calls and messages were a "nuisance" rather than the cause of "serious damage and distress". | From April, the ICO only had to demonstrate calls and messages were a "nuisance" rather than the cause of "serious damage and distress". |
An ICO spokesman told the BBC the lower threshold helped "enormously" in bringing more fines. | An ICO spokesman told the BBC the lower threshold helped "enormously" in bringing more fines. |
The regulator received 170,000 complaints this year and has made unsolicited calls one of its top priorities. | The regulator received 170,000 complaints this year and has made unsolicited calls one of its top priorities. |
'The law is clear' | |
Andy Currey of the ICO said the regulator had another 90 investigations in the pipeline with fines likely to total £1m. | Andy Currey of the ICO said the regulator had another 90 investigations in the pipeline with fines likely to total £1m. |
Mr Currey said: "The law is clear around what is allowed, and we've been clear that we will fine companies who don't follow the law. That will continue in 2016." | Mr Currey said: "The law is clear around what is allowed, and we've been clear that we will fine companies who don't follow the law. That will continue in 2016." |
Help Direct UK, a Swansea-based call centre, was fined £200,000 after sending thousands of spam texts for PPI claims, bank refunds and loans, prompting almost 7,000 complaints in one month. | Help Direct UK, a Swansea-based call centre, was fined £200,000 after sending thousands of spam texts for PPI claims, bank refunds and loans, prompting almost 7,000 complaints in one month. |
Two firms selling call blocking services, Cold Call Eliminations and Point One Marketing, were fined £75,000 and £50,000 respectively. | Two firms selling call blocking services, Cold Call Eliminations and Point One Marketing, were fined £75,000 and £50,000 respectively. |
Other penalties included £200,000 for a solar panels company that made six million nuisance calls, and £130,000 for Pharmacy 2U for selling customer details to marketing companies. | Other penalties included £200,000 for a solar panels company that made six million nuisance calls, and £130,000 for Pharmacy 2U for selling customer details to marketing companies. |
Last month ICO sent over 1,000 letters to companies involved in buying and selling personal data to check they are acting lawfully. | Last month ICO sent over 1,000 letters to companies involved in buying and selling personal data to check they are acting lawfully. |