http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/10169...
Watchdogs blast Culture Minister Ed Vaizey for staying silent on nuisance calls
Watchdogs have blasted Culture Minister Ed Vaizey for failing to tackle nuisance calls, claiming his dithering means millions more homeowners have been bombarded by salesmen and marketing messages.
By Steve Hawkes
6:00AM BST 10 Jul 2013
Which? last night demanded he take action and change the way marketing companies and "spammers" can use consumer data.
In a letter to the minister seen by the Daily Telegraph, Which? executive director Richard Lloyd said: "On the 10th June we asked you to call time on nuisance calls and texts by strengthening the law.
"A month has passed and we are still on hold. You have been worryingly silent on an issue that directly impacts eight in 10 people in the UK.
"In the past month alone, while we've been waiting for you to answer, we estimate that UK consumers have received 767 million unwanted calls."
He added: "With only a handful of days before Parliament packs up for the long summer holiday, there is just time for you to say what you will do in the forthcoming Communications Review to deliver change."
Which? is calling for the Government to place a limit on the time "selected third parties" can use consumer data. It also wants an obligation place on companies that proves a person gave consent to being contacted by marketing companies.
Which? also wants tougher enforcement action to be taken agaionst companies which call people who should be spared after registering with the Telephone Preference Service.
Last month Which? said so many homes were suffering from cold calls and unwanted texts that nearly six in ten people - 58 per cent - no longer want to answer their home phone.
Industry experts claim new EU rules could spark a trebling in the amount of calls people receive by slashing costs for "spammers".
Which? is due to meet Ed Vaizey with other industry figures on Thursday at a summit. A spokesman for the minister refused to say what was on the agenda.
In a statement, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said: "We completely understand how frustrating nuisance calls are and of course people should not be subjected to them. This is a wide ranging and challenging issue but we are tackling it.
"Ed Vaizey continues to meet with regulators and other key stakeholders to perss for action on this issue.
"Whilst regulators already have powers to act, we are considering what else can be done and we will set out some of our thinking on this shortly."
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