Nuisance callers 'The Hearing Clinic' fined £220,000

[Michael Browne]

A claims company has become the first to be fined under new powers after making millions of "nuisance calls", the government has announced.

 

The Hearing Clinic, based in Derby, has been fined £220,000 following hundreds of complaints about speculative calls regarding hearing loss claims.

 

It was the first fine issued by the Claims Management Regulator.

 

Many of those called by the business had subscribed to the Telephone Preference Service (TPS), indicating that they did not want to receive unsolicited calls.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-33788527

[Tryst]

Many of these cold calls come from call centres outside of the UK via recorded messaging, most often injury claims or mis-sold PPI claim companies. Any outgoing calls are redirected to the same call centre. Since they are not located within the UK, they don't fall under UK law. This is how many companies have got around the TPS list.

 

The only ones responsible for it are the companies who are employing the call centres. It takes a long time to get through to a real person instead of an automated reply if you call back to find out who the company is that is making these calls and can cost quite a bit on your phone bill. Without that information, you can't make a complaint. This really needs to be changed so that all overseas calls have to display a caller ID or they do not get through to UK numbers. Also, that caller ID must be specifically linked to the UK company selling the services.

 

We had a mobile phone at work for internal work use between the main office and the guys on the site. It was being called at a rate of sometimes twice a day with PPI claim services and always with an automated voice, no incoming number displayed though. It became such a nuisance due to disturbing the guys while they were trying to work that we had to get rid of the SIM and get another number for it. The number was even registered with TPS but it made no difference at all.

[hillards]

Great news that the Hearing Centre have been fined, I used to get several calls a week from various numbers and was sick of their unwanted attention. I'm TPS registered and ex directory.

 

I've recently highlighted another pest to my MP, who is actively campaigning against cold callers. Next Step Money are using a series of Hull numbers starting 01482 359. I've blocked about half a dozen on my phone already and tried to report them. The majority of calls are silent, if you pick up there's nobody on the other end. That's if you're quick enough to pick up as the call often terminates after 3-4 rings.

 

TPS don't want to know as I don't actually get to speak to anyone. I've been sent a copy of a letter form the ICO to my MP, regarding this matter. It goes over registering with TPS ansd how the ICO cna impose fines but then there's a sentenece which reads "I note that a number of calls Mr H is receiving are silent calls. We and the TPS cannot persue a complaint about silent calls under the PECR as no marketing is transmitted in such calls." Which is pretty useless really.

 

I'm then pointed at my service provider to establish if calls are being made by an individual or an organisation so they can take action - I'm with Virgin Media and they'll do nothing of the sort. I'm not even going to waste my time calling their wonderful script-monkeys.

 

Finally, I'm referred to Ofcom, who say they can only log information and take action if there are a large number of complaints. I've reported the numbers that way, but because this company keep changing number the number of complaints won't get high enough for Ofcom to act either.

 

I can block up to 30 numbers on my Panasonic phones, all 30 slots are taken...

[massey7466]

Great news that the Hearing Centre have been fined, I used to get several calls a week from various numbers and was sick of their unwanted attention. I'm TPS registered and ex directory.

 

 

 

I've recently highlighted another pest to my MP, who is actively campaigning against cold callers. Next Step Money are using a series of Hull numbers starting 01482 359. I've blocked about half a dozen on my phone already and tried to report them. The majority of calls are silent, if you pick up there's nobody on the other end. That's if you're quick enough to pick up as the call often terminates after 3-4 rings.

 

TPS don't want to know as I don't actually get to speak to anyone. I've been sent a copy of a letter form the ICO to my MP, regarding this matter. It goes over registering with TPS ansd how the ICO cna impose fines but then there's a sentenece which reads "I note that a number of calls Mr H is receiving are silent calls. We and the TPS cannot persue a complaint about silent calls under the PECR as no marketing is transmitted in such calls." Which is pretty useless really.

 

I'm then pointed at my service provider to establish if calls are being made by an individual or an organisation so they can take action - I'm with Virgin Media and they'll do nothing of the sort. I'm not even going to waste my time calling their wonderful script-monkeys.

 

Finally, I'm referred to Ofcom, who say they can only log information and take action if there are a large number of complaints. I've reported the numbers that way, but because this company keep changing number the number of complaints won't get high enough for Ofcom to act either.

 

I can block up to 30 numbers on my Panasonic phones, all 30 slots are taken...

 

If you look at your network supplier they should be able to provide a 'block last caller' service or block a number type service. With TalkTalk once registered and it's free, you only have to dial 17258 ** which blocks the last number and it's unlimited number of blocks hope that helps, they are a real pain. Network providers should also provide a block all withheld numbers for free too

[hillards]

If you look at your network supplier they should be able to provide a 'block last caller' service or block a number type service. With TalkTalk once registered and it's free, you only have to dial 17258 ** which blocks the last number and it's unlimited number of blocks hope that helps, they are a real pain. Network providers should also provide a block all withheld numbers for free too

Sadly, Virgin Media don't offer anything like that, except to suggest buying phones that block calls... I can't block withheld numbers as I get frequent calls from the hospital, who withhold their number...

 

Regardless of the provider providing blocking, or doing it myself, these calls are a pest and the company making them needs sorting out...