What are marketing calls?
Marketing calls can be live sales calls or calls where a pre-recorded message is played. What these calls have in common is that there is an attempt to promote a product, service, aim or ideal to you.
The Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 cover the way organisations make direct marketing telephone calls.
There are two types of marketing calls:
- Live marketing calls are calls you receive where you speak to a person who markets something to you.
- Automated marketing calls are calls where a pre-recorded message is played.
The ICO does not deal with complaints about silent calls.
What can I do to avoid unwanted calls?
Live marketing calls should not be made to anyone who has registered with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) or the Corporate Telephone Preference Service (CTPS), unless they have told the caller that they wish to receive such calls from them. They should also not be made to anyone who has told the caller directly that they do not wish to receive marketing calls.
Automated marketing calls can only be made to you when you have previously agreed that the organisation can make these calls.
To avoid unwanted marketing calls you can:
- register with the TPS free of charge; http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps
- check privacy statements when you provide your phone number; and
- tell organisations you deal with if you would rather they did not market you by phone.
What can I do if I am receiving unwanted marketing calls?
If you receive an automated marketing call or live marketing call which you think breaches the Regulations you should write to or email the organisation concerned (remembering to keep a copy of all correspondence). Tell them about the problem and allow them time to put things right.
If you continue to receive marketing calls despite registering with TPS, or asking the organisation to stop, we may be able to help.
The ICO deals with complaints about marketing calls. If you are receiving silent calls the ICO cannot help. You can get more advice from Ofcom on 020 7981 3040, or see its website http://www.ofcom.org.uk/.