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Ofcom Telephone Preference Service

Nuisance call complaints rise three fold to hit 460 a day

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By John Glenday, Reporter

July 18, 2013 | 1 min read

The number of people being plagued by nuisance calls has more than trebled to hit nearly 460 a day, according to the London School of Economics.

It criticises the telemarketing industry for weak controls that have allowed the proliferation of cold calls and marketing messages to people’s homes.

As a consequence the academics noted that 60 per cent of customers are now reluctant to answer their own phone with many people, particularly the elderly and disabled, bombarded with repeat fishing calls throughout the day.

In its report the LSE said: “While the costs to offending companies for making such calls are dropping, the negative impact on society, the economy and individuals is increasing.”

The results were based on complaints to Ofcom which reached 3,901 in April, up from 980 in April 2011 and separate complaints to the Telephone Preference Service, which hit 9,849 in April – up from 2,989 a year before.

Ofcom Telephone Preference Service

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