Blocking Nuisance calls at the office

MOST business people agree that e-mail spam is the most unwelcome interruption to their working day, with unsolicited phone calls and faxes running a close second.

Until now, only private individuals have been able to block these unsolicited approaches.

However, a European ruling has just come into force that makes it possible for businesses to stem the tide of unsolicited sales approaches, says solicitor Joanne Sanders from Glaisyers.

The Directive applies to UK limited companies; limited liability partnerships in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; any partnership in Scotland; schools, government departments and agencies; hospitals and other pubic bodies.

The new blocking service will be provided by a subsidiary of the Direct Marketing Association known as Telephone Preference Services Limited, in its capacity as an OFCOM contractor.

Businesses will now be able to register for non-solicitation with the DMAís Corporate Telephone Preference Services.

There are two sides to this new ruling, says Sanders. On one hand, it will be of benefit to the countless organisations who feel they are being plagued by unsolicited calls and faxes that waste staff time and resources.

On the other, there are plenty of legitimate direct selling operations that rely on ícold callingí to generate a stream of new business leads. They could see a significant reduction in the potential of the telephone as a sales medium and may need to find alternatives.

As yet it is unclear whether or not oOverseas ísecond worldí call centres will be required to comply with the ruling if they are calling organisations registered with the Corporate TPS. A rapidly growing number of centres in India deal with financial canvassing in the UK. .

Weíll have to see how the new ruling works in practice, Sanders observes. A fox appears to have been given the job of minding the chicken shed.

For further information, please contact:
Joanne Sanders - 0161 832 4666