COMPANIES employing cold-call techniques have been warned of a government crackdown on nuisance calls and texts to customers.
Proposed changes in law will make it easier for those firms responsible to be hit with fines of up to £500,000.
The government also confirmed it will look at introducing measures to hold board level executives responsible for nuisance calls and texts
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 is now removing this legal threshold, giving the ICO the power to intervene in more cases. This change will come into effect from 6 April 2015.
The government also confirmed it will look at introducing measures to hold board level executives responsible for nuisance calls and texts.
This follows a report from the Which?-led taskforce last December, which called for a review of the rules in order to act as a stronger deterrent to rogue companies.
Digital economy minister Ed Vaizey said: “For far too long companies have bombarded people with unwanted marketing calls and texts, and escaped punishment because they did not cause enough harm.