Context
The ICO has announced that it has fined two companies for making unlawful marketing calls to individuals registered with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS). WerepairUK Ltd, based in Tonbridge has been fined £80,000 for making 42,688 unsolicited calls. It has appealed the ICO decision. Service Box Group Limited, based in Hove, East Sussex, has been fined £40,000 for 5,361 calls.
Key points to note and next actions
These calls were made to people who had explicitly opted out of receiving marketing communications, violating their privacy and in some cases causing significant distress. There is clear evidence that, in both cases, older people and those living with illnesses such as dementia were targeted. Some individuals were subjected to repeated phone calls, attempting to pressure them into buying warranties for white goods, such as fridges and washing machines, that they did not need.