Just 2% of nuisance calls reported

Which? is calling on the government, regulators and businesses to step up their efforts to put an end to nuisance calls and texts after finding that just 2% of the calls are reported.

Over 60,000 complaints have been filed since December according to a new analysis of data from the Information Commissioner’s Office completed by Which?

A recent survey by Populus, commissioned by Which?, also showed that only 2% of people who receive unwanted calls report them to the regulator, suggesting many more calls are being received.

The survey also showed that a quarter (24%) of people don’t know where to complain when they receive an unwanted call, suggesting there is more work to be done to combat the problem.

Which? executive director Richard Lloyd said: “Despite a clear action plan from the nuisance calls task force, it’s disappointing that so many unwanted calls and texts are still being received. People are sick of being bombarded with nuisance calls that invade their privacy and waste their time.”

This number remains high despite Which?’s recent efforts to tackle the issue.

It launched a task force in December recommending tougher rules and more action against nuisance calls and texts, such as asking the government to make senior executives accountable by law for their company’s nuisance calls and requiring businesses to show their number when they call.

It also launched an online complaints tool, “Calling Time”, after finding that eight in 10 people (83%) had received a nuisance call on their landline in the previous month.

The tool has seen over 50,000 complaints logged, with around half going on to complain to the regulator.

The survey also found that eight in 10 people (79%) support greater accountability over nuisance calls, including directors being personally fined if their company breaks the rules.

Lloyd added: “The Government knows what’s required to tackle nuisance calls, so we need to see more sustained action, with senior executives held to account, to help put an end to this everyday menace.”

Last March the Government unveiled its first “nuisance calls action plan” in partnership with regulators, consumer groups and the communications industry in a co-ordinated effort that could see lower thresholds for punishment and greater fines imposed on the worst offenders.

A report in July by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and Ofcom also showed that those registered with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS), which allows people to opt out of telemarketing from brands playing by the rules, enjoyed a 31% reduction in the volume of sales or marketing calls.

However, figures from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in July showed that complaints had risen by 4% year on year to 161,720.

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