1 Introduction
1. Unwanted marketing messages can be received by
telephone or text message. Together with abandoned—including
silent—telephone calls, these 'nuisance calls' can cause
needless distress, not to mention inconvenience. Elderly people
and those with disabilities can be particularly affected by these
unwanted intrusions into their daily lives. Growing concerns about
this issue have led to many complaints to their Members of Parliament
from constituents. In March 2013, the consumer organisation Which?
launched the Calling Time on Nuisance Calls and Texts campaign.
Nuisance calls and texts were discussed during a BBC Radio 5
Live broadcast in June 2013, during which the Chair anticipated
our inquiry into the subject. In July 2013, an All-Party Parliamentary
Group on Nuisance Calls was also established which recently published
a report containing several recommendations.
2. On 15 July 2013, we announced an inquiry into
nuisance telephone calls and text messages, focusing on the current
regulatory system and its enforcement, the effectiveness of the
Telephone Preference Service and what practical measures could
be taken by communications service providers to curtail such communications.
Some 200 individuals and organisations contacted us in response
to our call for evidence. We also held two oral evidence sessions,
taking evidence from the following: Richard Lloyd, Executive Director,
Which?; Claire Milne, Chair, Consumer Forum for Communications;
David Hickson, The Fair Telecoms Campaign; John Mitchison, Head
of Preference Services, Direct Marketing Association; George Kidd,
Chief Commissioner, Direct Marketing Commission; Warren Buckley,
Managing Director, Customer Service, BT; Hamish MacLeod, Chair,
Broadband Group; Simon Entwisle, Director of Operations, Information
Commissioner's Office; Claudio Pollack, Consumer Group Director,
Ofcom; Edward Vaizey MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries. To everyone
who helped with this inquiry, we express our thanks.
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