Will ICO's Newfound Powers Affect Direct Marketing?

May 19, 2011 - PRLog -- Concerns have already been raised over the effects of the changes on the telemarketing industry.  There have been other alterations in the fining and powers over unwanted communication, yet no decrease has been evident.

Although it was recently discovered that the ICO has only fined one percent of the companies who have breached the Data Protection Act.  

This is why CPR Global has taken time to develop a product which can be plugged in to a land-line telephone to stop the calls.  As well as offering a service that works to remove personal details from the data lists around the globe.

1.5 billion Nuisance phone calls and a further 1.5 billion silent calls are received by UK households every year.  Nearly half of the consumers surveyed by CPR Global reported to receive several calls in just one day whilst a third of consumers receive more than ten nuisance phone calls in a week.  

The maximum penalty that the Information Commissioner can serve has been increased to £500,000 for the most serious breaches of PECR.  This includes businesses and other organisations sending unwanted marketing emails, texts, live and automated marketing phone calls.

Investigatory powers will also be increased and the ICO will have the authority to request information from telecommunication companies and ISP’s as well as auditing them.  Companies will also be questioned over the extent of use of Internet cookies as the ICO now has the power to regulate this type of technology.

Organisations will also be required to notify consumers and the ICO of any data breaches that may occur.  Data breaches often result in personal data being passed on to third party companies.

Now the ICO have more powers to enforce the PECR, call prevention services will prove to be more successful as call centres will supposedly take extra care to avoid being fined.  However it is likely that some organisations will not take any notice due to the expense that is involved in pursuing direct marketing in a legal manner.

Consumers can protect themselves from unsolicited calls with the CPR Call Blocker.  The device doesn’t rely on government intervention as it is pre‐programmed with 200 of the most persistent telemarketing companies’ telephone numbers, recognised by the Call Prevention Registry.  This leaves ample space for the consumer to block a further 100 telephone numbers at the touch of a button.

For more information or to purchase the CPR Call Blocker, contact the CPR Global team on 0800 652 7780 or visit www.cprcallblocker.com.

ENDS
Media Contacts:
For further information or an interview, please contact Miss. Kathryn Powell, PR & Media Executive for CPR Global.
Telephone:       (01792) 474430
Mobile:         07585229614
Email:         k.powell@callpreventionregistry.com
Post:         CPR Global, York Chambers, Swansea, Wales, SA1 3LZ

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