Car finance firm fined £30k for send thousands of spam texts
When challenged, the firm told the ICO the messages had been sent by another company.
The texts were designed to persuade people to visit the firm’s website.
Typical messages read: “You have been accepted for Car Finance no upfront costs or credit checks, drive away in a car within 24hrs at www.go-finance.com to stop txt stop.”
The website has now been dismantled.
“Carfinance247 Ltd tried to hide behind another company and distance themselves from the marketing practices involved,” said Steve Eckersley, the ICO’s head of enforcement.
“Let me be clear – if your business has hired someone else to provide direct marketing then the responsibility for the campaign is yours. There is nowhere to hide. If you break the rules we will find you and fine you.”
Under the law, marketing messages can only be sent to consumers who have already agreed to receive them, or who have been a customer in the past, and have been given an opportunity to opt out of such messages on each occasion.
Carfinance 246 was set up in 2006 by brothers and motor trade entrepreneurs Reg and Louis Rix, who previously owned Netcars.com, which they sold in 2013 to RAC.
In 2015 the company was listed at number six in The Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100 league table for firms with the fastest growing sales.
