"Hi!! you've won a prize!!!"
Dear Mr Glanville
Thank you for your recent correspondence regarding unsolicited automated calls that you have been receiving.
The Information Commissioner's Office administers and ensures organisations remain compliant with the Privacy and Electronic Communication Regulations 2003. Under these regulations it is required that marketers who use automated calls obtain the prior consent of recipients before instigating such calls.
The Information Commissioner has become aware of the great increase in the number of automated marketing calls being made to UK subscribers without prior consent. It appears that many of the calls come from outside UK, in particular from North America and while it is a contravention of the regulations to make automated marketing calls to a UK subscriber without the prior consent of that subscriber unfortunately where those responsible for making the calls are abroad they are outside the Commissioner's jurisdiction.
You should also note that the Information Commissioner is unable to track and locate details of organisations based on them having made a call to you at a specific time and date, therefore where you have been unable to collect any details about the caller we would be unable to obtain information from other sources to identify the caller and take any further action. If however you have been able to collect contact details for the caller we would ask that you complete a Regulation 19 Form available from the How to Make a Complaint' section on our website at www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk.
As many of the automated calls that we are aware of state that you have won a prize and invite you to call a premium rate number you may be able to receive further advice and assistance from ICSTIS who regulate organisations who promote UK premium rate phone lines. If an organisation outside the UK is using a UK service provider to make calls promoting the use of a premium rate line and are not complying with ICSTIS rules (which include observing the Regulations governing electronic marketing) then ICSTIS can require the UK service provider to stop supporting such services. You can contact ICSTIS on 0800 500212 or at icstis.org.uk
Please accept my apologies that the Information Commissioner's Office could not be of more assistance to you on this occasion. Should you be able to provide any additional information or a completed form please forward it to us, quoting the above reference number, for further investigation.
Yours Sincerely
Helpline Team