Re: [LUG] OT: DHL Spam

On 1 April 2014 23:26, Julian Hall <linux@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On 01/04/14 22:37, Simon Avery wrote:

On 1 April 2014 10:33, Julian Hall <linux@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

The first time I did that, in fairness to the caller, as soon as I mentioned TPS and being ex-directory he said he was terminating the call as he knew it was illegal to have called me. He then gave me - on being asked - the name of the company his employers bought the database from. It does seem sometimes it's a legitimate company working off a badly maintained database. Now, depending on the call, I do ask how they got my number.

You give them too much credit. Regardless of the source of the database, the responsibility is for the calling company to screen the data with the TPS. If they don't, they are not reputable.

I didn't know that. I was told (by at least one) that they had purchased the database from another company - who I also found on the web. Is it not the supplier's responsibility to make sure the product they are selling is fit for purpose, i.e. is accurate in this case? Why should the

Yep!

"before you make an unsolicited telesales call, or send an unsolicited fax, it is your responsibility to check that the recipient is not registered with the TPS or FPS service respectively. Failure to do so is an offence which carries a fine of up to £5,000."

This is applied to the company initiating the call, even if they sub-contract it to another company (or overseas centre).

It's a similar arrangement to the MPS, another facility that is useful for the consumer.

purchaser have to make sure the product they bought in good faith is accurate? I take your point that as the company making the call they are liable, but if, as in my case, they immediately accept fault when challenged and end the call, doesn't that demonstrate some degree of acting responsibly?

s/acting responsibily/fear of getting in trouble/

I've had this number for errr... 19 years I think. I didn't know about the TPS back then and to be honest spam callers have only been an issue in the last ten years, so that's 9 years when my number - which has always been ex-directory as well - wasn't protected by the TPS. Surely being ex-directory is enough?

AFAIK, being ex-directory just stops your number being listed in the phone book. If you've used your number anywhere else (given it to a company) then they are free to use it or sell that information within the confines of the DPA.

The good news is - you can add yourself to the TPS quickly, easily and for free at http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/ - and unless you actually enjoy being interrupted with a sales pitch from a bored individual who hates their job even more than you hate them for doing it; get yourself on there!

You can also register complaints through there if you are registered and get cold calls.

Simon