Bid to tackle nusiance calls made by rogue companies launched

Today The Telephone Preference Service (TPS) is launching a certification scheme for the UK telemarketing industry to tackle nuisance calls made by rogue businesses.

Earlier this year research by the Yorkshire Post suggested that thousands of people a day were receiving spam texts and bogus marketing calls in the region.

The scheme, called TPS Assured, will set standards to ensure companies involved in making legitimate marketing calls are complying with regulations and Ofcom guidelines. Companies that earn the TPS Assured mark will have to undergo an annual audit to ensure they continue to comply.

According to telecommunications regulator Ofcom, complaints about nuisance calls hit a record monthly high this year - with over 10,000 complaints in February. TPS Assured will enable companies to demonstrate that they comply with all the rules governing telemarketing.

Ed Vaizey MP, Culture Minister said: “Direct marketing is a legitimate industry but the public has had enough of nuisance calls from companies simply flouting the rules.

John Mitchison, Head of the Telephone Preference Service, added: “Nuisance calls are not just a problem for consumers, they are also harmful to the legitimate telemarketing industry which is unfortunately tarred with the same brush.