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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Cold call firms to be forced to display number - government | Cold call firms to be forced to display number - government |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Companies that cold call customers will no longer be able to hide or disguise their phone numbers, under government plans to target nuisance calls. | Companies that cold call customers will no longer be able to hide or disguise their phone numbers, under government plans to target nuisance calls. |
| The new measure will force firms registered in the UK to display their phone numbers, even if their call centres are based abroad. | The new measure will force firms registered in the UK to display their phone numbers, even if their call centres are based abroad. |
| The government says the move will make it easier for consumers to report nuisance callers. | The government says the move will make it easier for consumers to report nuisance callers. |
| But the Fair Telecoms Campaign said the move would not stop cold calling. | But the Fair Telecoms Campaign said the move would not stop cold calling. |
| The Department for Culture Media and Sport is expected to announce the amendment to existing legislation on Monday. The changes will take effect from 16 May. | The Department for Culture Media and Sport is expected to announce the amendment to existing legislation on Monday. The changes will take effect from 16 May. |
| Baroness Neville-Rolfe, minister for data protection, said the change will send a "clear message" to rogue companies. | Baroness Neville-Rolfe, minister for data protection, said the change will send a "clear message" to rogue companies. |
| "Nuisance calls are incredibly intrusive and can cause significant harm to elderly and vulnerable members of society." | "Nuisance calls are incredibly intrusive and can cause significant harm to elderly and vulnerable members of society." |
| The government was committed to tackling the problem, she said. | The government was committed to tackling the problem, she said. |
| 'Range of options' | 'Range of options' |
| John Mitchison, from the Direct Marketing Association - the UK marketing trade association that represents official telemarketing firms - said displaying phone numbers had been its recommendation to companies for "many years". | John Mitchison, from the Direct Marketing Association - the UK marketing trade association that represents official telemarketing firms - said displaying phone numbers had been its recommendation to companies for "many years". |
| "This change will make it easier for consumers to identify the legitimate companies and report the rogue operators to the relevant authorities," he added. | "This change will make it easier for consumers to identify the legitimate companies and report the rogue operators to the relevant authorities," he added. |
| However, the Fair Telecoms Campaign - which campaigns for consumer rights - said the move will not stop rogue firms. | However, the Fair Telecoms Campaign - which campaigns for consumer rights - said the move will not stop rogue firms. |
| David Hickson, from the campaign, said: "It's absurd to think that seeing a number that you don't recognise is any different from not seeing any number at all. | David Hickson, from the campaign, said: "It's absurd to think that seeing a number that you don't recognise is any different from not seeing any number at all. |
| "What they should be doing is taking action where they can to prohibit the whole practice of making unsolicited telephone calls and see that consumers have a good range of options on their telephone networks to help protect them from this nonsense." | "What they should be doing is taking action where they can to prohibit the whole practice of making unsolicited telephone calls and see that consumers have a good range of options on their telephone networks to help protect them from this nonsense." |
| Last year, the government introduced changes to make it easier to impose fines on the companies behind cold calls and nuisance text messages. | Last year, the government introduced changes to make it easier to impose fines on the companies behind cold calls and nuisance text messages. |
| In February, Brighton-based firm Prodial was given the largest ever fine by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) - £350,000 - for cold calling. | |
| It was responsible for making more than 46 million automated nuisance calls. | It was responsible for making more than 46 million automated nuisance calls. |