Pinnacle Life, a Wigan-based company, has been hit with an £80,000 fine by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) due to an illegal spam call campaign. Over the span of a year, the company made a staggering 47,998 unsolicited calls to individuals registered on the Telephone Preference Service (TPS), which allows people to opt-out of marketing calls. 

These spam calls were described as “persistent,” “aggressive,” and “misleading,” with employees often becoming insulting or harassing recipients when asked not to be contacted further. Despite repeated opt-out requests, some individuals reported receiving multiple calls over a short period of time.

The ICO’s investigation revealed that Pinnacle Life attempted to sell life insurance products during these calls, often using misleading information to convince recipients they were affiliated with their existing insurance providers. The company also made further attempts to operate under different names to evade compliance with orders to cease contacting individuals.

The ICO’s Head of Investigations emphasised the importance of reporting such calls, highlighting that one consumer complaint led to the discovery of nearly 48,000 illegal calls. These actions demonstrate that the ICO doesn’t take kindly to predatory marketing practices that invade individuals’ privacy rights.

Examples of complaints received by the ICO illustrate the aggressive and persistent nature of these spam calls, with some callers becoming confrontational or dismissive when asked not to call again. Despite clear requests to cease contact, individuals reported continued harassment, causing annoyance and anxiety.

To combat unlawful marketing calls, the ICO advises individuals to register their landlines and mobile numbers with the TPS and CTPS, which are used by legitimate marketing companies to identify individuals who do not wish to receive such calls. Additionally, mobile phone users can report unsolicited marketing text messages to the Mobile UK’s Spam Reporting Service. Concerns about fraudulent activities can be reported to Action Fraud or Police Scotland, while complaints about nuisance calls can be made directly to the ICO via their website.

This case serves as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding personal information and reporting unlawful marketing practices to protect individuals from harassment and potential fraud.

What Are Spam Calls?

Spam calls or nuisance calls are unwanted communications, like cold calls with recorded or real voices, that can disrupt and intrude on your privacy. Reporting these calls helps stop nuisance marketing by enabling investigations and actions against those responsible. Whether it’s silent, abandoned, or scam calls, reporting them to the ICO is crucial in tackling predatory marketing and protecting yourself from unwanted solicitations and potentially being missold products or services.