We've launched a campaign to encourage the Government to do more about the nuisance calls that are causing real damage to people's lives.
Text messages that tell you about “new Government legislation to write off your debt” or phone calls with a recorded message about how you can “get cash in your bank account in half an hour” are annoying for most of us, but there are some people that are caused genuine harm by them.
We’ve commissioned research into this issue and found that unsolicited marketing calls and text messages have left 3.2 million British adults afraid to answer the phone, while 8.8 million feel stressed or anxious because of them. We think it’s time that something was done to reduce the damage done by nuisance calls and texts.
That’s why today, we’re launching our Got their number campaign.
An offer they couldn’t refuse
If you’re struggling financially it can be incredibly hard to resist the offer of a ‘no questions asked’ payday loan, even if you know there’ll be no way you can repay it the next month. Getting money transferred to your bank account within minutes can be tempting, but the real cost of these loans can be devastating.
Debt collection phone calls
When people talk about nuisance calls and texts they usually mean they’ve been contacted by someone marketing a product or service such as payday loans or fee-charging debt management. We think that you could also include some debt collection phone calls in this category too.
We regularly speak to people who’ve been bombarded with calls and messages from lenders and debt collection agencies. These calls often leave people feeling stressed, anxious and can lead to them making poor financial decisions - much the same as the effects of unsolicited marketing calls.
How big is this problem?
Our recent YouGov* survey revealed from the British adult population:
- Almost 26.3 million British adults have been offered high-interest credit (e.g. payday loans) via unsolicited marketing calls and texts
- 31.3 million have been contacted by fee-charging debt management companies via unsolicited marketing calls and text messages
- Nearly 8.8 million British adults find unsolicited marketing calls or text messages stressful or they make them anxious
- 83% of people feel we need more protection from telemarketers
Why do nuisance calls happen?
I don’t think there’ll be many people who are pleased when they get interrupted by a company trying to sell them a product, so what can be done about nuisance calls?
We don’t think enough is done to keep your details safe. Companies buy and sell personal details, but it’s very hard to know who is getting your contact details. There are supposed to be safeguards to protect people, but they are simply not working.
There are three problems here:
1. People don’t know when they’ve given consent for their details to be passed on
2. Current laws make it hard for regulators to fine companies that break the law
3. Responsibility for policing nuisance calls is split between two regulators, and services like the Telephone Preference Service do not work effectively
Time for action on nuisance calls and texts
Nuisance calls and texts have reached epidemic proportions in Britain and we’re calling on Government, regulators and consumer groups to come together to establish a comprehensive package of changes that will put a stop to phones constantly buzzing with calls and texts that are unwanted, intrusive and potentially harmful.
Support our campaign
If you agree that it’s time to act on nuisance calls and texts you can lend your voice to our campaign. Find out how you can make a difference by visiting our #GotTheirNumber campaign page.
Nuisance callers might have your number, but we’ve got theirs!
*All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,017 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 20th - 23rd September 2013. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).