ICO acts on unsolicited security calls

SAS Fire Security Systems and Direct Response Security Systems have been served enforcement notices by the Information Commissioner’s Office. Both companies breached the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations by making unsolicited marketing calls without an opt-in.

A number of individuals complained via the Telephone Preference Service that they had been contacted without prior consent. The companies had been making unsolicited marketing calls to individuals who were registered on TPS or had asked the companies not to contact them. Previous warnings given by the ICO were ignored.

Sally-anne Poole, head of enforcement and investigations at the ICO, says: “It is particularly concerning that, despite repeated complaints, the companies continued to ignore the privacy rights of individuals. Unsolicited marketing calls can be extremely annoying and disruptive, especially when you have made every effort to stop them and registered your preferences with the organisations contacting you.”

She adds: “The ICO has produced clear guidance on how to conduct direct marketing in compliance with PECR and the Data Protection Act and will work with organisations to help them get it right. However, companies who flout the law and continue to target individuals with unsolicited marketing calls will face action from the ICO.”