Car dealership fined £40K for spam texts
COMPANY BROKE THE LAW BY SENDING OUT 336,000 MESSAGES DURING A YEAR
A USED car dealership which sent out hundreds of thousands of spam texts has been hit with a £40,000 fine.
Concept Car Credit Limited based in Stoneclough Road, Radcliffe, sent 336,000 unsolicited texts over an 18-month period.
The penalty on the company has been imposed by the Information Commissioner’s Office which launched an investigation after 66 complaints were lodged against the company between April 2015 and March 2016.
The investigation found the company, which offers both car finance and cars for sale, had broken the law about how firms can use people’s details to send marketing texts.
Steve Eckersley, ICO Head of Enforcement, said: “The mass sending of over 300,000 marketing text messages without following the rules is simply not on.
“We have published clear guidance on how to comply with the law and have a helpline which gives businesses further advice.
“There’s no excuse for getting it wrong and intruding into people’s everyday lives with spam texts.”
The company told the ICO it had obtained the data used to send the messages from other organisations.
But as the instigator of the texts it was Concept Car Credit Limited’s responsibility to ensure it was only texting people who had consented to receive the marketing. The firm failed to do this.
Alongside the fine, the ICO has also issued an enforcement notice ordering the company to stop sending unlawful texts in the future. If the company does not comply with the notice, it could face court action.
If the company pays the fine in full by June 13, it will get a 20 per cent reduction to £32,000.
The content of the texts included: “URGENT..Finance deals approved 4 you to drive your new car away today, no deposit and 100 cash back. CALL NOW 01204466400 or conceptcarcredit.co.uk OPT OUT:STOP”.
Another message was: “Looking 4 Car Finance, we can help. Up to £200 cash back, no deposit & drive away same day. Call 01204466400 or apply @conceptcarcredit.co.uk OPT OUT; STOP”.
A third said: “Urgent your approval 4 car finance expires today up to 200 cashback no deposit open until 8pm! Call 01204446400 or visitconceptcarcredit.co.uk OPT OUT; STOP.”
The M.E.N. made three phone calls to the company asking for a comment.
Companies House lists Andrew Porter, 60, as managing director, and Susan Porter, 59, and Dawn Malley, 37, as current directors.
People can report nuisance calls, texts and emails at ico.org.uk. Spam texts can also be reported by forwarding them to 7726.