Context
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has announced fines totalling £405,000 to five companies responsible for over 750,000 unwanted marketing calls targeted at older, vulnerable people. The ICO also issued these companies with enforcement notices that require them to immediately stop making these predatory calls.
Key points to note
- The companies investigated were calling people to sell insurance products or services for white goods and other large household appliances.
- Many of the complaints said that people receiving the calls were vulnerable, had underlying health conditions, with some suffering from dementia.
- The ICO found that these companies were deliberately targeting older people by buying third party marketing lists (evidence gathered suggesting these companies were either working together or using the same marketing lists to target these people), specifically asking for personal information for people aged 60 or over, homeowners and with landline numbers.
- The ICO is continuing to investigate a number of other companies in addition to the five it has already fined which are Domestic Support Ltd (DSL); Home Sure Solutions Ltd (HSSL); Seaview Brokers Ltd, UK Appliance Cover Ltd and UK Platinum Home Care Services Ltd.
Next actions
None – for information and awareness