Member Article

Don't Go Ka-Boom like Keurboom

In 2016/17, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) had its busiest year for nuisance calls issuing 23 companies a total of £1.923 million for nuisance marketing.

And yesterday, the ICO announced that they had issued their highest ever nuisance calls fine after more than 1,000 people complained about recorded – also known as automated – calls.

Keurboom Communications Ltd has been fined a record £400,000 following an investigation by the ICO who claim the company had made 99.5 million nuisance calls.

The calls, made over an 18 month period, related to a wide range of subjects including road traffic accident claims and PPI compensation. The ICO state that some people received repeat calls, sometimes on the same day and during unsociable hours. The company also hid its identity, making it harder for people to complain.

Companies can only make automated marketing calls to people if they have their specific consent. The ICO claim that Keurboom did not have consent so was in breach of the law.

The ICO can take action to change the behaviour of organisations and individuals that collect, use and keep personal information. This includes criminal prosecution, non-criminal enforcement and audit. The ICO currently has the power to impose a monetary penalty on a data controller of up to £500,000.

However, take heed, when the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), is applied in the UK from 25 May 2018, the ICO’s powers of enforcement are greatly increased with a monetary penalty increasing to up to 20million euros or 4% of a worldwide turnover.

If you would like more info on GDPR or need help with any ICO enquiry, contact Andrew Swan, Sheila Ramshaw or David Gibson.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by lazy grace .