Five firms face unlimited fines for cold calling

Five firms selling double glazing, home improvement and telephone services face unlimited fines for aggressive cold calling after the privacy watchdog used new powers to issue enforcement notices yesterday.

The companies, the first to be prosecuted for cold-calling, all ignored complaints from people who had objected to receiving unsolicited phone calls at home.

Last year, salesmen made an estimated 1.5 billion cold calls to UK consumers - most of them during the evening. The number has rocketed in the past two years as firms use new technology and cheap labour in overseas call centres.

The Information Commission's Office has ordered IDT Direct Limited (also known as Toucan), Staybrite Windows Ltd, Zenith Windows Ltd, Bowater Windows Ltd and Bowater Home Improvement Ltd to stop calling individuals who have already expressly told the companies that they do not wish to be contacted, or who have registered with the Telephone Preference Service to stop calls.

Full story: http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/legal/article2054655.ece