Victory for Sunday Post campaign on nuisance calls as Government move to end the plague.
A tough action plan aimed at ending the scourge of nuisance calls and spam text messages is set to be rolled out thanks to the Sunday Post.
Government Ministers have pledged to hit rogue firms who use the tactic with massive fines that could run into the millions.
There had been fears the long awaited strategy to take on the issue could be delayed for political reasons.
But the Ministry of Justice has unveiled a hard hitting strategy, signalling victory for our campaign.
Justice Minister Chris Grayling insisted: “It’s time to stop these claims companies from plaguing hardworking people’s lives and wasting everyone’s time.
“The scale of these fines shows just how serious we are about stopping them.
“The Claims Management Regulator already takes tough action against companies which break the rules, suspending and closing down rogue firms.
“These fines will now give us an extra weapon to drive bad behaviour out of the industry.”
The MoJ plans will target claims management firms who make up the majority of nuisance calls with offers to win people compensation for accidents or mis-selling by banks.
Companies that use information gained from unsolicited calls and texts or who waste time or money by making outrageous statements will be fined up to 20% of their turnover under the proposals.
The Government claim its Action Plan is the first “comprehensive and co-ordinated” approach to the plague of nuisance calls.
According to Government figures around 25,000 complaints are made about the problem every month.
Culture Secretary, Maria Miller said: “Nuisance calls must stop. At best they are an irritation and an unwanted intrusion, at worst they cause real distress and fear, particularly to the elderly or housebound.
“People need to feel secure in their homes. The rules are clear people have the right to choose not to receive unsolicited marketing calls. We will work to ensure their choice is respected.”
Last year The Sunday Post delivered a 20,000-strong Say No to Nuisance Calls petition to Downing Street.
In a House of Commons debate, secured by Lib Dem MP Mike Crockart, Culture Minister Ed Vaizey revealed the Action Plan that contains most of the demands of our campaign was ready to be launched but that the Government had to find space in its timetable.
Mr Crockart: “I am delighted that the Government has published the Action Plan.
“I have been contacted by hundreds of people and their message is always the same, they are sick of their lives being blighted by this menace and are desperate for action to tackle it.
“Now the plan has been published we need swift action and I will be camped on the Minister’s doorstep to make sure he sticks to his promises.
“The Minister has promised me monthly update meetings and if I do not hear details of real progress from the outset they will be extremely stormy meetings.
“It’s been a long time coming and it is great to see some movement, we can only hope the industry will get the message that the time for cold calling is at an end.”
The watchdog responsible for dealing with nuisance calls nationwide, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), comes under the MoJ umbrella.
Next week parliament will legislate to make it easier for Ofcom, responsible for tackling silent and abandoned calls, to share information with the ICO in order to identify offenders.
The Government will consult with the industry about lowering the threshold at which action can be taken against companies that bother people with spam texts and unwanted phone calls. Currently, prosecutors must show the company caused “substantial damage or distress”.
Campaigners want that reduced to
nuisance, annoyance or anxiety.
And a taskforce headed by the boss of consumer group Which? will look into how people give consent to receive marketing calls and how they can opt out more easily.
Timeline
August 2012: We report on the Telephone Preference Service and how it’s failing consumers you contact us in your droves.
August 2012: A week later, with Mike Crockart MP, we launch a petition demanding changes to the current failing system 20,000 sign up.
Sept 2012: We report on how Brits have had 2.6 BILLION nuisance silent phone calls in the last four years.
Sept 2012: An undercover team of Sunday Post reporters tell how nuisance calls is being driven by a global and often illegal trade in your phone numbers and details.
Oct 2012: Our campaign is highlighted in both the Houses of Parliament and the Scottish Parliament.
Nov 2012: We report on how authorities in Canada and Australia are cracking down on nuisance calls. Here, they’re accused of inaction.
Feb 2013: We tell how Government regulator the ICO is drawing up a list of companies making nuisance calls to hit with fines.
Feb 2013: A week later we go to 10 Downing Street to present our 20,000-strong petition.
March 2013: We report on the landmark fine handed out to DM Design the first of its kind.
May 2013: We tell how the NHS and even independence campaigners are being investigated for nuisance calls.
June 2013: In a rare bit of good news we tell how complaints to the worst nuisance call offenders has decreased since our campaign started.
August 2013:The UK Government announced a new super-regulator making it easier for people to report nuisance phone calls.
October 2013: MP Mike Crockart gives evidence to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Nuisance Calls, set-up to help the thousands being plagued by calls.
March 2014: Fury erupted amid claims the UK Government was to shelve plans to stamp out cold calls.
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