Hello? You don’t know me but I’ve rung to discuss... nuisance calls!
NUISANCE calls are being taken to new levels of absurdity by firms that telephone the public uninvited – to offer services to stop cold calls.
But what many people do not realise is that a safeguard against cold calls is already available for free through the Government-backed Telephone Preference Service (TPS).
Two firms offering to block cold calls have recently been placed on a monitoring list of the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
The list features the 20 ‘worst’ culprits based on the number of complaints and information from consumer organisations.
Cold Call Elimination has been warned it is on the regulator’s radar amid allegations that staff gave the impression they were calling from BT to offer a Government-backed scheme.
The firm offers services priced between £34.99 and £129.99 that include fitting a ‘call-blocker’ device to landlines to stopping unwanted calls from UK and foreign numbers.
However, anyone can register for free with the TPS. Firms making calls without prior consent to people signed up to the TPS are breaking the law.
Cold Call Elimination’s director is Leah Masters, 31, who is pictured on Facebook enjoying holidays in Las Vegas and Marbella, and drinking from a bottle of champagne.
The company denies any wrongdoing and says it follows all Trading Standards practices. It is not under investigation but is being ‘monitored’ by the ICO, which could order a full probe if it suspects illegal practices or non-compliance with cold-calling regulations.
The firm denies its staff have alluded to being from BT or offering a Government service. It says it gets numbers from companies that sell data but intends only to contact people who have ‘opted in’.
Nuisance Call Prevention Service is also on the ICO monitoring list. It did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
Double-glazing firm Zenith Staybrite has also been placed on the ICO list. The company is owned by HI Sales, whose chief executive is Ian Blackhurst, co-owner of Premiership rugby side Sale Sharks.
A legal spokesman for Mr Blackhurst denied Zenith has had a ‘significant number of caller complaints’ or had ‘acted in breach of the relevant regulations’. He added that Mr Blackhurst had no operational involvement in Zenith.