UK Imposes Fines for PI Claims Nuisance Calls
Directors could be held responsible for nuisance calls
The Law Society Gazette has recently stated that the department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) has proposed acting against company directors for nuisance calls. According to the DCMS, they “escape justice”. Company directors that allow nuisance calls – or cold-calling - could be charged with fines of up to £500 000. They claim that directors keep evading the law through dubious methods including starting up cold-calling companies under new names, after claiming bankruptcy through penalty payments.
The Minister for Digital and Creative industries, Margot James MP, said: "Nuisance calls are the blight on society and we are determined to stamp them out.” The DCMS also advised that unwanted calls could be stopped if the information commissioner has the power to hold the unsavoury bosses responsible. This proposal was made after the government rejected the total ban in the Financial Guidance and Claims Bill. With its third and final reading in April, the call for a ban on cold-calling marketing practices was cleared. There were no amendments made for a complete ban.
Statistics for nuisance calls in the UK
Cold-calling in the United Kingdom is a big deal. The Financial Adviser illustrated the spectrum of this matter with the following statistics:
• 4200 cold calls are made every single minute of the day. This means that over 6 million calls are made daily.
• 2.2 billion cold-calling texts were made in 2017 alone.
• Pensioners over the age of 65 seem to be the main target of the cold calls. Calls to pensioners make up approximately 30% of all cold calls.
• Many nuisance calls relate to pension. There are also large numbers of calls regarding protection insurance as well as PI claims.
• Nuisance calls for PI claims appear to make up most of the reports by affected consumers.
What can you do about Cold-Calling?
• Stop them before they start
Prevention is so much better than a cure in the case of cold-calling. You can successfully avoid cold calling if you register with the Telephone Preference Service. It is then illegal for any nuisance callers to contact you unless you have previously given them your details. Especially when it comes to making PI claims which can at times not even be relevant to you! If they continue to call you after you have requested that they stop, their calls will be considered an illegal activity.
Avoid the cold calls by blocking their numbers. Sometimes their numbers will appear as withheld or as international calls. This could however mean that you miss an important call that is not a cold call. Don’t forget to report all scam calls to Action Fraud Police.
Caring for our customers: The proof is in our actions
At Legit Claims we do not rely on dubious marketing methods. We believe in integrity-based marketing and advertising and believe in giving claims advice to all affected by personal injury. Our other great personal injury services speak for our company and what we can offer you. If you are considering making a PI claim, contact one of our personal injury solicitors today.