Search Privacy Fines

Swansea company CPS Advisory Ltd was fined £130,000 for making more than 100,000 unauthorised direct marketing calls to people about their pensions

Unsolicited calls for direct marketing purposes to subscribers who had registered with the Telephone Preference Service in contravention of Regulations 21 and 24 of the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003.

A marketing company, via a third party, transmitted unsolicited communications by means of electronic mail for the purpose of direct marketing, without the recipient’s consent.

The data controller failed to take appropriate organisational measures against unauthorised processing of personal data

The council were fined by the ICO for leaving personal information vulnerable to attack

The company sent unsolicited direct marketing text messages without the consent of the recipients.

AMS Marketing Ltd, of Peacehaven, made the calls to people who had opted out of receiving marketing calls by registering with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS).

Bible Society fined £100,000 after security failings put supporters’ personal data at risk

An ICO investigation revealed that Quick Tax Claims Limited had sent 7,863,547 unlawful text messages over the course of a month, resulting in 66,793 complaints – 93% of these stating there was no ‘opt out’ option. During the investigation, the ICO found that the company had purchased personal information from third-party suppliers that did not obtain valid consent. This led to the ICO issuing Quick Tax Claims Limited with a £120,000 fine.

Confidential waste bins and black plastic bags containing personal data discovered in decommissioned building

Between 4 March and 8 October 2020, UK Platinum Home Care Services Limited instigated the making of 412,556 unsolicited calls for direct marketing purposes in contravention of regulation 21 PECR. The company has been fined £110,000.

Maxen Power Supply Limited used overseas call centres to make unsolicited marketing calls to businesses in contravention of regulations 21 and 24 of PECR. The company was fined £120,000 and issued with an enforcement notice.

Between 1 August 2020 and 30 April 2021, Posh Windows UK Ltd used a public telecommunications service for the purposes of making, on the balance of probabilities, 461,062 unsolicited calls for direct marketing purposes.

Boiler Cover Breakdown Limited (BCBL), based in Sutton, Surrey made 9,075 unsolicited direct marketing calls to people registered with the TPS between 1 January 2020 and 31 August 2020. Boiler Breakdown Limited (BBL) also based in Sutton, Surrey made 348,724 unsolicited direct marketing calls to people registered with the TPS during the same time period. Both companies have the same Director, with phone lines rented by one company used by both businesses to make calls. The ICO’s investigation found calls were specifically targeted towards vulnerable people. The ICO has fined BCBL £120,000 and BBL £140,000. Both companies have also been issued with an enforcement notice demanding they comply with the law within 30 days. Both companies have appealed to the First-tier Tribunal against the ICO’s monetary penalty notices.