The ICO recently revealed that it had recovered just over half of the £17.8 million in fines issued for nuisance calls since 2010, as companies go into liquidation to avoid big penalties.

This follows the latest estimates by Ofcom showing British consumers were bombarded with 3.9 billion nuisance phone calls and texts last year. As it stands, only the businesses themselves are liable for fines of up to £500,000, and some directors try to escape paying penalties by declaring bankruptcy. The Insolvency Service can also disqualify people from boardroom positions and failure to adhere to this ruling could lead to a prison sentence.

New government proposals (currently at consultation stage) could provide the ICO with powers to hold company directors directly responsible with further fines of up to £500,000. Minister for Digital and the Creative Industries Margot James said: “Nuisance calls are a blight on society and we are determined to stamp them out. For too long a minority of company directors have escaped justice by liquidating their firms and opening up again under a different name. We want to make sure the Information Commissioner has the powers she needs to hold rogue bosses to account and put an end to these unwanted calls.”

 

Mike Bradford | Director, Regulatory Strategies  https://www.regulatorystrategies.co.uk/

SOURCE:  CCTA Magazine https://www.ccta.co.uk