Crackdown on cold callers: How do I stop nuisance calls and texts?

More than 175,000 people complained to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) watchdog last year about cold callers.

More than eight in ten people (83 per cent) received one unsolicited call within the space of a month on their landline, according to recent research from consumer group Which?.

Of these around one in ten (13 per cent) received more than 20 unwanted calls in that month.

However, under new Government laws, the ICO will no longer have to prove that messages are causing "substantial damage or substantial distress" before action is taken against those responsible.

Instead, there will be a lower threshold for companies issuing nuisance calls to face a reprimand.

In the meantime Which? has provided consumer tips on how to stop the "menace" that blights the lives of millions of people. 

How do I stop nuisance calls and texts?

•  Look carefully at what you are agreeing to when you tick a consent box and check how your personal information is being used.
• Never opt-in to third party marketing when you take out an insurance policy. If you make a claim tell your insurer you don’t want to be contacted by a CMC (Case Management Company).
•   Register with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS). If you are registered with the TPS and still receive calls, you can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) on 0300 123 3000.
• If you are with mobile phone providers Orange, O2, T-Mobile or Vodafone you can forward spam texts to 7726. If you’re a Three user, text 37726.
•  Set up call barring – many cold calls come from abroad, so you could ask your phone operator to block calls from international numbers.
•  Don’t respond to spam texts. Even texting the word ‘stop’ alerts the sender that the phone is active and in use. If you do receive spam texts, you can report them to your network provider or to the ICO.
•    Note the number – if possible get the cold call phone number (for example through dialing 1471). This helps regulators to investigate.
• Screen calls – if you have caller display and an answer phone, consider only answering calls from numbers you recognise. Don’t answer unsolicited emails or return unrecognised calls as again you will be letting the company know your details are ‘live.’
• Block calls from withheld numbers, although this may block some calls you wanted to receive as well.
• Be calm and firm with cold callers and ask them to take you off their list - never reveal your name, address, or financial details on the phone to unsolicited callers.
• Use call blocking services such as CPR Call Blocker and TrueCall Call Blocker which plug into your home phone and allow you to screen the calls you recieve
•  Report suspected scams to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 

Customers  are also urged to report unwanted calls so that regulators can identify the companies who are breaking the rules.

This can be done for free by forwarding unwanted texts to 7726 or reporting them on Which? at: www.which.co.uk/callingtime

Which? executive director, Richard Lloyd said: "We welcome the Government making good on its promise to change the law so it’s easier to prosecute nuisance callers. 

"These calls are an everyday menace blighting the lives of millions so we want the regulator to send a clear message by using their new powers to full effect without delay.

"It’s also good news that the Government has listened to our call and is looking into how senior executives can be held to account if their company makes nuisance calls.”