DMA welcomes change in legislation to tackle nuisance calls

The DMA welcomes Government changes to the law, announced today, which will make it easier for the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to issue penalties to nuisance callers.

The law currently requires the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to prove a company caused ‘substantial damage or substantial distress’ by their conduct before action can be taken.

Following a six-week public consultation, the Government will now lower this legal threshold, giving the ICO the power to intervene in more cases. This change will come into effect from 6 April 2015.

Mike Lordan, director of external affairs of the DMA, said:

“The DMA has been spearheading the industry’s initiatives to tackle the problem of nuisance calls and text spam and we have been calling for legislative changes to make it easier for the ICO to issue penalties to rogue companies breaking the law.

“The recent surge in complaints has been driven in the main by rogue companies making PPI and accident claims calls. Lowering the burden of proof is an important tool in protecting the telemarketing industry and consumers from the scourge of nuisance calls.”