The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has issued a hefty fine to a call blocker firm for making nuisance calls. The company, called Keurboom Communications Ltd, has been fined a record-breaking £400,000 for making nearly 100 million automated nuisance calls.
The ICO launched an investigation after receiving over 1,000 complaints from individuals who had received unsolicited calls from Keurboom Communications Ltd. These calls were made between October 2014 and March 2016, and were primarily related to road traffic accident claims and PPI compensation.
The investigation revealed that the company had not obtained proper consent from individuals before making these calls, which is a violation of the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR). The PECR requires companies to have prior consent from individuals before making automated marketing calls.
The ICO’s Deputy Commissioner, Steve Eckersley, stated that the company’s actions were “deliberate and sustained”, causing significant distress and annoyance to individuals. He also emphasized that the ICO will not hesitate to take action against companies that disregard the law and continue to make nuisance calls.
This is not the first time that the ICO has taken action against companies for making nuisance calls. In 2016, a record-breaking fine of £350,000 was issued to Prodial Ltd for making 46 million automated nuisance calls. In addition, the ICO has also issued fines to other companies for similar offenses, including a £200,000 fine to a solar panel company and a £80,000 fine to a PPI claims company.
The ICO’s action against Keurboom Communications Ltd serves as a warning to other companies that engage in nuisance calls. The ICO has the power to issue fines of up to £500,000 for violations of the PECR, and it will not hesitate to use this power to protect individuals’ privacy and stop the spread of nuisance calls.
Individuals who receive unsolicited calls can report them to the ICO through their online reporting tool or by calling their helpline. The ICO also advises individuals to register their phone numbers with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) to reduce the number of unsolicited calls they receive.
In conclusion, the ICO’s fine against Keurboom Communications Ltd sends a strong message to companies that engage in nuisance calls. It is a reminder that individuals have the right to privacy and companies must adhere to the law when conducting marketing activities. The ICO will continue to take action against companies that disregard the law and cause distress to individuals through nuisance calls.
