A maths question, a large fine and a change in the law
Maths question: If a company makes almost 100 million nuisance calls over an 18 month period and a thousand people complain, what is the size of the fine?
When a company called Keurboom Communications Limited did this, the fine imposed by the Information Commissioner’s Office in May 2017 was £400,000.
The company had breached privacy laws on an industrial scale by cold calling people without their consent.
The fine is the largest levied by the ICO for nuisance calling. But the ICO is unlikely to be able to collect much of the fine as the company has gone into liquidation.
Plans have already been published to make the individuals behind such companies personally liable for these fines in the future and this case will only increase the likelihood of the law being changed in that way.
Direct marketing has its place but it must be carried out properly and in accordance with the law.
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