TalkTalk apologises for disallowed cold-calling

The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) has instructed telephone company TalkTalk to stop all cold-calling after complaints were received from line subscribers who had recorded their preference to not receive marketing calls, but were still contacted by the company.

ComReg received a number of complaints from people who received cold calls from TalkTalk .

"ComReg and the ODPC were made aware of a series of data integrity issues in TalkTalk’s internal processes and procedures," ComReg said in a statement.

ComReg instructed TalkTalk to immediately cease all direct marketing sales activities until it had audited and rectified its procedural defects. TalkTalk was also instructed to issue a public apology for contacting consumers who had chosen not to receive sales calls.

In their apology TalkTalk said: "We make every effort to conduct our business in an appropriate and responsible manner. Due to data integrity issues in our internal processes, we regret if we have recently failed to live up to our normal standards.

"We sincerely apologise if you have been contacted by TalkTalk recently although you had previously chosen not to receive sales and marketing calls."

Under the 2003 Data Protection and Privacy Regulations, it is an offence for a person to make an unsolicited telephone call for the purpose of direct marketing where the line subscriber has notified the operator that he or she does not consent to the receipt of such a call.

"If consumers have experienced persistent unsolicited calls, when there has been a request that no further contact be made by telephone, an offence has been committed and consumers should immediately report such behaviour to the Data Protection Commissioner’s office," ComReg said today.

Information on how consumers may opt out of receiving direct marketing calls is available on www.askcomreg.ie or through ComReg’s consumer line @ LoCall 1890 229668. The office of the Data Protection Commissioner may be contacted at [phone] or www.dataprotection.ie.