Cold calls hit energy firm for £45k

The Information Commissioner’s Office has come good on its pledge to root out rogue telemarketing companies by fining energy-saving specialist Tameside Energy Services £45,000 for making thousands of calls to people registered on the TPS.
The ICO originally proposed a fine of £90,000 but has been forced to slash the penalty in half due to the company’s financial situation.
The fine is the second is as many months. In June the regulator slapped two companies behind the BBC3 show The Call Centre – run by Nev Wilshire – with a £225,000 penalty.
Tameside Energy Services describes itself as a company which offers a range of energy efficiency improvements. Between May 26, 2011 and 31 January 31, 2013 the company was found to be responsible for over 1,000 complaints to the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) and the ICO.
In one case an 80 year old lady decided to complain after continuing to receive calls despite informing the company on 20 separate occasions that it must stop.
As well as failing to remove people from their contact lists, Tameside failed to carry out adequate checks to see whether the people they were calling had registered with the TPS.
ICO director of operations Simon Entwisle said: “This is not the first and will not be the last monetary penalty issued by the ICO for unwanted marketing calls. These companies need to listen – bombarding the public with cold calls will not be tolerated.”
DMA chief of operations Mike Lordan welcomed the move. He said: “We’re pleased that the ICO has used its powers to fine yet another company breaching telemarketing rules.
“The ICO must use enforcement action to protect the consumer, as well as the interests of the vast majority of companies that comply with the law and follow the highest standards of best practice.
“We know there are more companies breaking the law, so we look forward to seeing further enforcement action to stamp out nuisance calls and protect the legitimate telemarketing industry.”

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