'Stop the calls' firm fined for making nuisance calls

Bournemouth-based Point One Marketing, which claimed to sell devices designed to block niusance calls, has been fined £50,000 by the Information Commissioner (ICO) for making niusance calls and breaching TPS rules

The company, which ran a service it claimed removes people from a cold call database, was fined for calling people registered on the Telephone Preference Service (TPS), making threatening calls and making sales to consumers with dementia.

Point One Marketing Ltd (previously Conservo Digital Ltd) trades as ‘Stop the Calls’, ironically marketing itself through aggressive cold calling, according to the ICO.

The Information Commissioner reported that the, "company had prompted hundreds of complaints, reporting pressure sales tactics and salespeople implying they were operating an official service to stop nuisance calls. Some complainants reported bullying calls and salespeople shouting at them when they asked not to be called again.

"One reported their mother being talked into providing credit card details, despite it being obvious she suffered with dementia," it said.

The DMA recently published its latest telemarketing guidelines for vulnerable consumers.

The ICO found the company had breached the Privacy and Electronic Communication Regulations (PECR), which govern marketing calls. It had called people registered with the Telephone Preference Service, made repeated calls, sometimes several on the same day, and ignored requests by people to stop the calls, all which resulted in a fine of £50,000.

ICO head of enforcement Stephen Eckersley said, "This company lacked integrity. They tried to sell a product that they claimed would stop nuisance calls, knowing full well they were responsible for so many such calls themselves. They operated in what appears to have been such a bullying, aggressive way only makes matters worse.

“We promised to act swiftly against the companies that break the law and we have. This fine has been issued because of the people who complained to us about this company. But they are by no means the only offender out there. If you are receiving nuisance calls, then let us know, and we can act as we have here.”