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phone calls, faxes and e-mails. But other people only want a company to contact them if they have asked that company to do so. If you are one of those people, there are a number of things you can do.
No thank you
If you want to stop companies phoning you at home without your consent, register with the Telephone Preference Service on www.tpsonline.org.uk
Direct Marketing Association (DMA)
5th Floor Haymarket House
1 Oxendon Street
London
SW1Y 4EE
Tel: 020 7766 4420
Fax: 020 7976 1886
No company or supplier can cold call someone who has registered with them.
Even if you haven't registered, cold callers must at the beginning of the call:
• give the trader's identity
• make their business purpose clear
If they do not, they are breaking the law
Unwanted faxes:
It's against the law for a supplier to send marketing faxes without their prior consent.
Fax Preference Service web site gives information about this. www.tpsonline.org.uk/fpsregistration.htm
Direct Marketing Association (DMA)
5th Floor Haymarket House
1 Oxendon Street
London
SW1Y 4EE
Tel: 020 7766 4420
Fax: 020 7976 1886
No company or supplier can fax someone who has registered with them.
The Office of The Information Commissioner monitors both the Telephone and Fax Preference services which are regulated by the Direct Marketing Association. If you continue to have problems you should contact the Commissioner at the address shown below. The Commissioner can apply for an enforcement order if there has been a breach. Failing to comply with such an order is a criminal offence.
The Office of the Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Information line: 01625 545 745
Fax: 01625 524 510
Mail@dataprotection.gov.uk
www.dataprotection.gov.uk
Unwanted mail:
If you want to stop companies sending you catalogues and special offers, you can register with the Mailing Preference Service. Doing so will remove your name from all mailing lists. You can contact them (UK residents only) at
FREEPOST 22,
London
WIE 7EZ
Tel: 0345 034 599
Spam – those unwanted e-mails
If you want to stop companies sending you unwanted e-mails:
• register with the Direct Marketing Association's e-mail preference service. Their web site is at www.e-mps.org/en/
Please note: this service is run by the US branch of the Direct Marketing Association so any personal data won't be protected by UK laws.
• or try your internet service provider (ISP) as they can often trace the sources and put a block on future mailings
What if you receive goods or services you haven't even ordered?
If you receive goods that you have not ordered or which have not been ordered on your behalf and it looks like the trader has deliberately sent them to you, you can keep them. You are under no obligation to return them to the supplier and it is illegal for a supplier to request payment from you. In effect you can treat them as a gift.
It is equally illegal for a supplier to perform services for you that you have not ordered and then demand payment.
If a business seeks payment for unsolicited goods or services, they are committing an offence – tell your local trading standards authority.
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