{"id":2144180,"date":"2024-12-12T10:42:40","date_gmt":"2024-12-12T10:42:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thebusinessdesk.com\/northwest\/?p=2144180"},"modified":"2024-12-12T10:42:40","modified_gmt":"2024-12-12T10:42:40","slug":"rogue-companies-fined-total-of-290k-for-making-millions-of-nuisance-calls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thebusinessdesk.com\/northwest\/news\/2144180-rogue-companies-fined-total-of-290k-for-making-millions-of-nuisance-calls","title":{"rendered":"Rogue companies fined total of \u00a3290k for making millions of nuisance calls"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Information Commissioner\u2019s Office (ICO) has fined two Greater Manchester companies a total of \u00a3290k after finding they made numerous nuisance phone calls to people, who had opted out of receiving marketing calls, attempting to sell them life insurance and debt management solutions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Breathe Services (BSL), a debt advice company based in Bolton, first came to the attention of the ICO as part of a wider investigation into complaints received about unsolicited phone calls to potentially vulnerable individuals.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a failed attempt to hide its real identity, BSL was found to have spoofed its outbound phone number by presenting more than 1,000 different telephone numbers on calls. In March 2023, the ICO carried out a search at BSL\u2019s office in Bolton, seizing evidence including documents and electronic devices.<\/span><\/p>\n

The ICO’s extensive investigation revealed that between March-July 2022 and October-December 2022, BSL bombarded people with 4,376,037 unsolicited direct marketing calls to numbers that had been registered with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS). This resulted in 58 complaints to the TPS and a further 193 complaints to the ICO.<\/span><\/p>\n

The types of complaints received stated:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c[They] kept saying they can help with my debt. I advised them I keep receiving calls and it\u2019s making me feel suicidal […] I receive these calls from the same company every single day, sometimes three or four times a day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve asked the company every day for three weeks to remove my number […] and they still call every day. I am disabled and suffer with extreme anxiety and they will not leave me alone after weeks of begging.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs I am a university student this impacts my education and most recently, they phoned me over five times during an exam leading to my paper being voided and more pressure and stress.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOn at least seven occasions I have specifically instructed for no further calls and to be removed from their call list […] These calls are incessant at all times of day and night.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe harassment has been ongoing for months. It has been incredibly annoying and stressful.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

During the investigation, the ICO found that BSL had deliberately tried to conceal its actions as well as ceasing to cooperate with the ombudsman. As a result of this unlawful behaviour, the company has been fined \u00a3170,000.<\/span><\/p>\n

During the same wider investigation into unsolicited marketing calls, a second company was identified, Money Bubble (MBL), a financial advice company based in Oldham.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was found that between October-November 2022, the company made 168,852 spam calls resulting in several further complaints being made to the ICO and TPS.<\/span><\/p>\n

MBL did not provide evidence that anyone whose number had been called had consented to receiving calls from the company. The ICO has issued a \u00a3120,000 fine.<\/span><\/p>\n

Both companies have also been issued with an Enforcement Notice.<\/span><\/p>\n

Andy Curry, Interim Director of Investigations at the ICO, said: \u201cThis is appalling behaviour by both companies, causing people distress, upset and anxiety.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPeople registering with the Telephone Preference Service do so specifically to avoid these types of calls. I hope the fines that have been issued demonstrate that we will take action against rogue companies.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He added: \u201cA reputable company knows its legal obligations, accesses support and guidance from the ICO, and respects the role of the TPS and those who sign up to it. Both Breathe Services and Money Bubble ignored the measures which are in place to protect people\u2019s privacy, showing complete disregard to all those that registered with the TPS.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe enforcement action we have taken should act as a warning to any other organisation considering operating in a similar way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It is unlawful for an organisation to make marketing calls to any phone number registered with the TPS, unless the owner has given consent.<\/span><\/p>\n

People are reminded to register with the TPS should they want to opt out of unsolicited sales and marketing calls. They can also make a complaint to the ICO if they feel their information has been mishandled or have received spam messages or calls.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

‘They phoned me over five times during an exam leading to my paper being voided’<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":217725,"featured_media":2059383,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[120902],"coauthors":[46761],"class_list":["post-2144180","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-legal","tag-featured-story","tag-greater-manchester"],"yoast_head":"\nRogue companies fined total of \u00a3290k for making millions of nuisance calls<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"'They phoned me over five times during an exam leading to my paper being voided'\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thebusinessdesk.com\/northwest\/news\/2144180-rogue-companies-fined-total-of-290k-for-making-millions-of-nuisance-calls\" 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