The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has searched a business premises near Glasgow today, as part of an investigation into a company suspected of making over 200 million illegal nuisance calls.
Computer equipment and documents were seized for analysis during the search, and will now be used as part of the ICO’s investigation.
The ICO has powers to issue fines of up to £500,000 for breaches of the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003, which cover the way organisations make automated direct marketing telephone calls.
The search warrant executed in Clydebank was prompted by complaints from the public about automated nuisance calls promoting boiler and window replacement schemes. Containing recorded messages, they often aligned themselves to non-existent Scottish or UK Government initiatives.
Some potentially put people’s safety at risk as they were made to Network Rail’s Banavie Control Centre, and clogging the line for drivers, and pedestrians at unmanned level crossings who were calling to check it was safe to cross the rails.
Ken Macdonald, head of ICO Scotland, said: “These calls have caused millions of people disruption, annoyance and distress, but not only this, those made to a control centre charged with public safety may have endangered lives.
“Companies behind nuisance calls should know that people are sick of them, and when people complain to us, we will act.”
The 200 million plus calls the firm is suspected of making is one of the highest volumes the ICO has ever executed a search warrant in relation to. The highest amount of calls ever to result in an ICO fine is 146 million.
The ICO said it would not be naming the business whilst the investigation is ongoing. Anyone who wants to report a nuisance call or text can do so on the ICO website.