Newcastle sole trader fined £50,000 after making over 194,000 illegal marketing calls
A Tyneside man has been fined for a series of illegal marketing calls
Newcastle based sole trader Darian Bishop, trading as ECO4U, £50,000 for making over 194,000 unlawful marketing calls to people on the UK’s 'do not call’ register.
Bishop’s unlawful calls related to grants for new boilers and solar panels, with the inference made during the calls that he was connected to a government scheme.
It is against the law to make marketing calls to people who have been registered on the Telephone Preference Service register (TPS) for more than 28 days, unless they have explicitly consented to receive the calls.
Catherine Sankey, Group Manager at the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said: “Feeling threatened or abused in your own home, simply because you picked up your phone, will never be acceptable.
“Our investigation clearly showed this individual was fully aware of the law in relation to making marketing calls yet went ahead and made them anyway.
“Our fine shows that we will hold all those who flout the law to account, from sole trader to larger companies employing a number of staff, and should act as further warning that we continue to pursue and fine companies who choose to ignore the law in pursuit of financial gain.”
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The ICO became aware of Bishop during wider enquiries relating to an increase in complaints received about the energy and home improvement sector. An investigation began in October 2023.
Bishop maintained he received valid consent after people completed an application form via a Facebook advertisement. A sample of complainants were contacted during the investigation, all of whom confirmed to the ICO either they did not complete an application form or they did not use Facebook.
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