Bolton West MP Chris Green has welcome the government’s announcement of new rules to crack down on nuisance calls.
Under the new rules, direct marketing companies must now display their numbers so that those they call are able to block them or report them, even when the company’s call centres are based abroad.
If companies withhold their identities or persistently break the rules, they will face fines of up to £2 million from Ofcom and £500,000 from the Information Commissioner’s Office.
The new rules, which come into effect on May 16, come after last year’s changes allowing the Information Commissioner to punish nuisance callers without proving they had caused ‘substantial damage or substantial distress.’
Chris commented:
“Nuisance callers harassing elderly and vulnerable people is one of the most repeated complaints I receive from my constituents.
“These rules are welcome news and will make it much easier for everyone to refuse and report these intrusive calls.”