Why more must be done to stop nuisance calls

Consumer group Which? has called for more to be done to stop nuisance calls, after the Information Commissioner's Office revealed there had been 61,500 official complaints about calls and texts driving people mad since the beginning of 2015. It added that only 2% of people ever report unwanted calls, so the real figure is likely to be well over 3 million.

Which? chaired a nuisance calls and texts task force last year. In December it issued 15 recommendations for stronger powers to stop companies making these calls. As a result, the government announced it would change the law so that the Information Commissioners Office would no longer have to prove that the messages were causing substantial damage or distress before taking action.

More to be done

However, Which? says the government has since taken its foot off the gas, and adds that the fact that so many thousands of complaints have been made in the months since, means more needs to be done now.
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Which? executive director, Richard Lloyd said in a statement: "Despite a clear action plan from the nuisance calls task force, it's disappointing that so many unwanted calls and texts are still being received. People are sick of being bombarded with nuisance calls that invade their privacy and waste their time. The Government knows what's required to tackle nuisance calls, so we need to see more sustained action, with senior executives held to account, to help put an end to this everyday menace."

It wants to see senior staff in the firms making these calls take responsibility - with the potential to fine them personally. This was something the government promised to look into back in February, but so far there has been nothing forthcoming.

It means that while we would hope to see the government taking firmer action, it's vital for us to protect ourselves as well as we can from these calls in the interim. There are five steps well worth taking

1. Register with the Telephone Preference Service

You can do this for free online or by calling 0845 070 0707. This should dramatically cut cold calls. The only two occasions you can be called legally once you have signed up are companies that you have given specific permission to call, or companies doing market research. Unfortunately, recent research found that even after signing up, two thirds of people still got unwanted calls, so you'll need to take the rest of the steps too.

2. Contact the organisation direct

If you are regularly getting calls from the same organisation, ask for the name of the business and their phone number. Call them and asked to be removed from their database.

3. Block the number

If you are still getting calls from a specific number, it makes sense to block it. This is simple from a mobile, but to get a landline provider to block the number you will need to convince them that the caller is a real nuisance.

If they are reluctant to block a number, you can buy a handset that does it for you, or a blocking gadget that you attach to your phone. QVC recently reported that it had seen a 25% increase in people searching for them on its site - and that it had sold out of the product 12 times in the past year.

4. Make a complaint

If you still receive unwanted calls, then those who are ringing are breaking the law, so it's worth reporting them to the Information Commissioner's Office on 0303 123 1113. Before you call, make a note of the name of the company, and when they made the calls. If the calls you get are silent, then you'll need Ofcom on 0300 123 3333.

5. Double-check any forms

Once you have rid yourself of cold callers, you need to avoid accidentally setting up more. It means you'll need to check when replying to any company that the small print doesn't give them permission to call or sell your contact details on.

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